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Colour coding changes: Abvance Biotech, RichardGSK, Lilly, MedImmune, Novartis

...

Not necessarily predictive.Low (define)
Parameter measuredAssay nameAssay abbreviation

Assay description

(link to primary citation)

PurposeTech platform/aka (e.g. NanoPro)Used by <company>Stage

Measure of

(units)

Data needed for BASECASE

Impact of production processLikelihood of comparability -  inc. assay clusters which observe the same phenomenonsAdditional information or comments
INTRINSIC MOLECULAR PROPERTIES
Chemical stabilityCapillary Isoelectric FocusingcIEF

High throughout, capillary-based isoelectric immunoassay to determine charge profile and pI of molecule

Michels et al., Anal. Chem 2012

dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac3008847

Measure of pI and charge heterogeneity - used in conjunction with LC-MS.

NanoPro

Beckman

Proteinsimple

GSK (check if used as control to determine pI)

Lilly

MedImmune (check)

Early selection

Final profiling

Endpoint data

pI

Capture buffer conditions

Record pI of main isoform

Record proportion of main isoform to acidic and basic species


Likely -

Glycan composition will affect charge profile, therefore antibodies produced by different processes may show different profiles

Low for antibodies (May be significant for other proteins in view of glycosylation impact) 

High

Should be comparable even with subtle differences in method and antibody formulation

Parameter of low value - can be predicted in silico reliably enough from sequence (published)


Chemical stability, ImmunogenicityLiquid chromatography-Mass spectrometryLC-MS

Description

(citation)


Intact molecular mass and 'standard' glycosylation pattern and obvious fragmentation.



Abvance

GSK

Lilly

MedImmune

Novartis (check)

Final profiling

Endpoint data

MW

% intact species

% of respective glycovariants

Capture buffer conditions

Likely -

Glycan composition will affect 'standard' pattern

High

Parameter of low value - intact molecular mass and fragmentation can be assessed by SDS-PAGE.

Ranking of molecules by LC-MS and CE-SDS comparable

Re. Immunogenicity, need to define what a 'standard' glycosylation pattern is and how this is linked to immunogenicity

Structural stability

Differential Scanning Fluorimetry

(including Thermofluor)

(including Nano DSF)


DSF

DSF is a fast and economical method to determine the temperature at which a whole antibody or a Fab unfolds (Tm), i.e. the temperature at the mid-point of the unfolding transition. The Tm is measured by an increase in the fluorescence of a dye with affinity for hydrophobic parts of the protein, which become progressively more exposed as the antibody unfolds. The Tm is assigned using the first derivative of the raw fluorescence emission data.

Rank Fabs and antibodies according to their thermal stability as measured by the Tm. Screen for favourable buffer and/or additive conditions.

iQ5, CFX96 Real-Time Systems (Bio-Rad)

Prometheus (Nanotemper)


GSK

Lilly (rarely)

MedImmune

Abvance

Novartis

(Jain et al)

Early selection

Thermal stability

(ºC)

Capture buffer conditions

Record number of unfolding transitions

Capture which dye is used as this can affect Tm (e.g SPYRO Orange)

Capture conc of sample as will affect Tm

Capture temp gradient used during run (e.g. A temperature ramp from 40 ºC to 95 ºC at a rate of 0.5 ºC/2 min)

Capture whether Tm is for full IgG or Fab

UnlikelyHigh (assuming similar buffer conditions)Ranking of molecules by DSF and DSC comparable
Structural stabilityDifferential Scanning CalorimetryDSC
Rank Fabs and antibodies according to their thermal stability as measured by the Tm. Screen for favourable buffer and/or additive conditions.

Lilly

MedImmune

Novartis

Final profiling

Thermal stability

(ºC)

Capture buffer conditions

Record number of unfolding transitions

Capture conc of sample as will affect Tm

Capture temp gradient used during run (e.g. A temperature ramp from 40 ºC to 95 ºC at a rate of 0.5 ºC/2 min)

Capture whether Tm is for full IgG or Fab

UnlikelyHighRanking of molecules by DSF and DSC comparable
Structural stability, (self) Aggregation

Analytical Size-Exclusion Chromatography


aSEC

Antibodies are flowed through chromatography media consisting of  Non-aggregated dimeric and monomeric antibodies elute as defined, well-separated peaks. Aggregated antibodies flow through the column faster and elute before the non-aggregated antibody peaks. Percentage aggregation can be worked out from the ratio of peak surface areas under the aggregated vs non-aggregated antibody peaks.

Verify structural integrity, oligomeric state, percentage aggregation of antibody samples.

GE Healthcare

Agilent

GSK

MedImmune

Lilly

Abvance

Novartis

(Jain et al)

Early selection

Final profiling

Elution time, peak width, peak asymmetry relative to a well-behaved control antibody

(% monomeric species, retention time per unit volume or time)

Capture buffer conditions

Capture column type (e.g beads 25-45 µm in size - GE Superdex 200).

Capture Flow rate

Relative size (MW)

UnlikelyHigh


Chemical stability (integrity), Structural stability (integrity)Capillary electrophoresisCE-SDS
Verify chemical and structural integrity, quantify fragmentationBeckman Caliper

GSK

Lilly

MedImmune (check)

Novartis

Final profiling

Endpoint data

Approx. MW

Impurities

Capture sample prep conditions: reduced, non-reduced, denaturationUnlikelyHigh

Ranking of molecules by LC-MS and CE-SDS comparable

(self) Aggregation

(Hydrophobicity)

Hydrophobic Interaction ChromatographyHIC

HIC separates antibodies on non-biological surfaces based on the distribution and nature of the antibody hydrophobic patches. This approach assumes that the increased retention of antibodies on hydrophobic columns at moderate to high salt concentrations (e.g. ammonium sulphate, ammonium phosphate) correlates with increased antibody hydrophobicity. Antibodies are eluted in a mobile phase without added salt, i.e. only in buffer.

Assess non-specific interactions.

Rank antibodies according to their relative hydrophobicity

GE Healthcare

Agilent

GSK

Lilly

MedImmune

Abvance

Novartis

Jain et al

Early selection

Retention time

(retention time per unit volume or time)

Capture buffer conditions

Capture column type (e.g beads 25-45 µm in size - GE Superdex 200).

Capture salt gradient

Unlikely

High

should be comparable (relative retention time rather than absolute values)

Retention time used for ranking of molecules.
Structural stability, (self) AggregationDynamic Light ScatteringDLSDynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measures the translational diffusion coefficients Dt of nanoparticles and colloids in solution by quantifying dynamic fluctuations in scattered light due to Brownian motion of the molecules in liquid. Sizes and size distributions, in turn, are calculated from the diffusion coefficients in terms of hydrodynamic radius rh or hydrodynamic diameter dh. Technique can be used with high concentration samples (cf SEC)Measure hydrodynamic radius (characterise/quantify aggregation)Wyatt

Lilly (rarely)

MedImmune

Final profiling

Endpoint data

hydrodynamic radius (nm)

Capture buffer conditions

Sample concentration

Molecule type

Unlikely

High

should be comparable for same buffer conditions and sample concentrations

Ranking of molecules by DLS and AC-SINS comparable

(self) AggregationSelf-interaction by light scatteringK-Diff

DLS experiment which measures the propensity for molecule to self-associate under particular conditions.

K-diff = Association constant defined by diffusion.


Rank antibodies according to their propensity to self-assembleDLS

Lilly

MedImmune (check)

Novartis

Final profiling(mL/g)

Capture buffer conditions

Capture concentration range

K-diff

UnlikelyProbably High


(self) AggregationAffinity-Capture Self-Interaction Nanoparticle SpectroscopyAC-SINS

Sule et al., Mol. Pharmacuetics, 2013

dx.doi.org/10.1021/mp300524x

High-throughput, low protein screen for self-association propensity, where antibodies are captured onto gold nanoparticles. Self-association is determined if the nanoparticles with captured antibody clump together resulting in a red-shift.


Assess propensity of antibody to self-associate / RSA at high concentrations 

Gold nanoparticles

Scanning plate reader

MedImmune

Jain et al

Early selectionPlasmon wavelength redshift in nm

Capture buffer conditions

Record redshift in nm, relative to non-capture / buffer only controls

UnlikelyShould be largely comparable if buffer conditions are the same
(self) AggregationMultiangle laser light scatteringMALLSMALLS describes a technique for measuring the light scattered by a sample into a plurality of angles. It is used for determining both the absolute both the absolute molar mass and the average size of molecules in solution, by detecting how they scatter light. (wikipedia)Determine symmetry or presence of multiple aSEC peaks and shape independent measure of MW

Abvance






Does not provide much additional information over aSEC experiment
Chemical stability, (Immunogenicity)In silico predictions

Predict pI and PTM sites in CDR

GSK

MedImmune

Novartis

Early selection



Not of high interest for comparisons. Can be applied to all selected molecules easily if wished for.

(human, cyno, mouse -(GSK), rat -(Novartis) PK
FcRN interaction (SPR)

Binding to FcRn contributes to the long half-life of IgGs and albumine. Properties of antibodies to bind FcRn receptors is assessed for candidate ranking and risk minimizing.

Assessment of FcRN binding properties to identify risk of unfavorable PK

Biacore

EPIC

GSK

Lilly

Novartis

Final profiling

Endpoint data

Apparent affinity at pH 6.0, 7.4 to FcRn (M)

% Residual binding to FcRn observed

Capture buffer conditions

Capture assay setup (ratio Ab to :receptor, fitting model) and readout (ratio Ab:receptor)?

Unlikely

Medium/Low

Comparability vs control, not absolute numbers

control, not absolute numbers as dependent on conditions used

Not necessarily predictive - unusual activity for FcRN signifies potential issue. However, in some cases no FcRN activity results in abnormal PK. 

(human, cyno) PKHeparin Sulphate Chromatography

Rule out proteoglycan interactions affecting PKHPLC (Agilent, Waters, Thermo, etc)

Lilly

Early selection

Final profiling

Retention time (or salt concentration at elution), relative to control antibodies

Column details

Chromatography conditions (buffer, salt gradient details)

UnlikelyHighNot standard use. Data comparable to heparin binding (in cells) 
(human, cyno) PKELISA Baculovirus particlesBVP ELISA

ELISA on baculovirus particles and non coated ELISA plates under low stringency blocking conditions to assess nonspecific binding / polyspecificity of lead antibody candidates. Binding observed to either BVPs or plastic indicates that the antibody has a risk of faster nonspecific clearance in vivo. 

Hotzel et al., mAbs, 2012

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.4161/mabs.22189

Polyspecificity / nonspecific binding / aberrant PK riskELISA

MedImmune

Jain et al

Early selection

Final profiling

Absorbance at 450nm if using HRP detection

Capture buffer conditions

Capture concentration range of antibodies tested

Record absorbance on both BVPs and non-coated wells

Record binding ratio relative to controls (sticky and non-sticky)

Unlikely (providing there is high monomer purity)Whether an antibody flags or not, should be comparable. Actual numbers may not beLow use across industry - possibly used by Adimab and Genentech
(human, cyno) PKNonspecific HEK or CHO cell binding by flow cytometry (HyperCyte) or non-wash cytometry (Mirrorball)HEK/CHO binding

Providing the target for an antibody panel is not expressed on a certain cell type (e.g. HEK293 or CHO), then assay systems using this cells are effective in determining the polyspecificity and therefore PK risk.

Polyspecificity / nonspecific binding / aberrant PK riskFlow cytometry, Mirrorball (TPP Labtech)MedImmune

Early selection

Final profiling

Fluorescence counts

Capture assay conditions

Capture concentration range of antibodies tested

Record total fluorescence counts

Record fluorescence ratio relative to controls (sticky and non-sticky)

Unlikely (providing there is high monomer purity)Whether an antibody flags or not, should be comparable. Actual numbers may not be
ViscosityViscosity

Assess viscosity of unformulated vs formulated antibody

Malvern Rheometer

Malvern Viscosizer

GSK (GSKnot routine so limited data)(

Lilly)

Novartis

MedImmune (check)

Endpoint data

Capture buffer conditions

Capture concentration

Unlikely

Low/Medium

High if measured in similar buffer conditions

Very condition dependent so we need to get a sense of what comparisons are possible

ACCELERATED STABILITY (AS) PROPERTIES

Stressed samples will be compared to non-stressed samples to determine changes due to accelerate stability conditions.

Capture stress conditions (sample treatment) applied ahead of running each assay: stress stimulus, buffer conditions, storage temperature, sampling timepoints (incubation time)

Chemical stabilityCapillary Isoelectric FocusingcIEF

High throughout, capillary-based isoelectric immunoassay to determine charge profile and pI of molecule

Michels et al., Anal. Chem 2012

dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac3008847

Change in acidic and basic variants. Effect on binding (SPR) of changing pI.

NanoPro

Beckman

Proteinsimple

GSK

Lilly

MedImmune

Early selection

Final profiling

Endpoint data


Capture buffer conditions

Record pI of main isoform

Record proportion of main isoform to acidic and basic species

Record change in main isoform upon stress to acidic or basic species



As above, except stressed samples will be compared to non-stressed samples to determine changes in charge profile due to AS conditions.
Chemical stabilityPTM by Liquid chromatography-Mass spectrometryLC-MS (PTM)

Description

(citation)

Identification and approx. quantification of post-translational modifications by peptide mappingESI-MS

Lilly

Novartis

Final profiling

Endpoint data

Relative amount of modification

Capture buffer conditions

Capture digest conditions (pH)

MediumHigh Detailed experiment carried out on AS samples
Structural stability, (self) Aggregation

Analytical Size-Exclusion Chromatography


aSEC (AS)

Antibodies are flowed through chromatography media consisting of  Non-aggregated dimeric and monomeric antibodies elute as defined, well-separated peaks. Aggregated antibodies flow through the column faster and elute before the non-aggregated antibody peaks. Percentage aggregation can be worked out from the ratio of peak surface areas under the aggregated vs non-aggregated antibody peaks.

(citation)

Verify structural integrity, oligomeric state, percentage aggregation of antibody samples.

GE Healthcare

Agilent

GSK

MedImmune

Lilly

Abvance

Novartis

(Jain et al)

Early selection

Final profiling

Endpoint data

Elution time, peak width, peak asymmetry relative to a well-behaved control antibody

(% monomeric species, retention time per unit volume or time)

(% high molecular formation per unit time)

Capture buffer conditions

Capture antibody concentration

Capture column type (e.g beads 25-45 µm in size - GE Superdex 200).

Capture Flow rate

Relative size (MW)

UnlikelyHigh

Same as aSEC but using stressed samples

Chemical stability (integrity), Structural stability (integrity)Capillary electrophoresisCE-SDS
Verify chemical and structural integrity, quantify fragmentationBeckman Caliper

GSK

Lilly

MedImmune (check)

Novartis

Final profiling

Endpoint data

Approx. MW

Impurities

Capture sample prep conditions: reduced, non-reduced, denaturationUnlikelyHigh

Used in AS

Cluster with LC-MS

Structural stability, (self) AggregationDynamic Light ScatteringDLSDynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measures the translational diffusion coefficients Dt of nanoparticles and colloids in solution by quantifying dynamic fluctuations in scattered light due to Brownian motion of the molecules in liquid. Sizes and size distributions, in turn, are calculated from the diffusion coefficients in terms of hydrodynamic radius rh or hydrodynamic diameter dh. Technique can be used with high concentration samples (cf SEC)Measure hydrodynamic radius (characterise/quantify aggregation)Wyatt

Abvance

GSK

Final profiling

Endpoint data

hydrodynamic radius (nm)

Capture buffer conditions

Molecule type

Sample concentration

UnlikelyHigh - should be comparable for same buffer conditions and sample concentrations

Cluster with AC-SINS

Chemical stabilityCation Exchange ChromatographyCEC (IEC)

Description

(citation)

Change in acidic and basic variants.

Novartis

(GSK)



Capture buffer conditions




Chemical stabilityCapillary Zone ElectrophoresisCZE

Description

(citation)

Change in acidic and basic variants.
NovartisFinal profiling

Capture buffer conditions




Structural stability, (self) AggregationAnalytical Ultra CentrifugationAUCLow throughput method used to characterise and quantify aggregation (especially at high concentrations). Two types  - sedimentation velocity or sedimentation equilibrium. Sedimentation velocity uses centrifugal force to measure sedimentation coefficient, diffusion coefficient and mass of sample. Characterise and quantify aggregationBeckman Coulter XLI-1

GSK

Lilly

Abvance

Final profilingmass, distribution, sedimentation coefficient

Capture buffer conditions

Molecule type

concentration

rotor speed


should be comparable for same buffer conditions
Chemical stability, Structural stabilitySurface Plasmon ResonanceSPRSPR measures changes in refractive index at a gold sensor chip surface which are proportional to changes in mass. It is used to measure binding kinetics and affinities of molecules. SPR can be used in conjunction with other techniques to look at the consequence of chemical or structural changes on the affinity of an antibody (an intrinsic property) to either to its antigen of interest or Fc receptors e.g. FcRn. SPR can also be used to measure the active concentration of a molecule (i.e. the proportion able to bind).

Measure changes in active concentration or kinetics.

Change in target binding upon stress

Biacore

ProteOn

GSK

Novartis

Final profiling?

Endpoint data

Ka (1/Ms), Kd (1/s), KD (M), active concentration (%)

Capture buffer conditions

chip/surface used

assay format (i.e. ligand and analyte)

concentrations

technique measures impact of chemical/structural changes

Low (define)

should be comparable if 1:1 assay format used

High (define)

Probably not of high interest for comparison and prediction

Capillary Gel ElectrophoresisCGE


GSKEndpoint data
Capture buffer conditions



PEG-induced precipitation



LillyFinal profiling
Capture buffer conditions



Reversed phase HPLC



GSKEndpoint data
Capture buffer conditions



Rheometry

Turbidity
NovartisEndpoint data
Capture buffer conditions


...