Assay concept for detecting anti-drug IgM in human serum samples by using a novel recombinant human IgM positive control.

Aim: Development and qualification of an easy-to-use ELISA for detection of IgM anti-drug antibodies (ADA) and its use in a clinical Phase I trial. Results & methodology: During the assay development two positive control (PC) approaches, the preparation of a chemically conjugated and a recombinant PC, were pursued. With both PCs, the assay was developed and successfully qualified considering the regulatory guidelines. For a case study, the IgM ADA isotyping assay with the recombinant PC was selected. Different courses and intensities of immune response regarding IgM signals were demonstrated. Conclusion: The easy-to-use ELISA allowed IgM-ADA detection in clinical samples. Conjugated and recombinant IgM PCs were comparable regarding assay sensitivity, precision and suitability.

Epitope characterization of the ADA response directed against a targeted immunocytokine.

Targeted immunocytokines (TICs) display potent activity in selective tumor suppression. This class of multi domain biotherapeutics (MDBs) is composed of the three major domains Fab, Fc, and a cytokine which may induce a complex polyclonal anti-drug antibody (ADA) response. However, classical ADA assays usually are not suitable to specify ADAs and to identify the immunogenic domains of a TIC. The purpose of the present study was to establish epitope characterization of ADA responses in order to specify immunogenic responses against a TIC and their direct impact on the pharmacokinetic profile, safety, and efficacy. Based on standard ADA screening and confirmation assays, respectively, domain detection assays (DDAs) and domain competition assays (DCAs) were established and compared by the use of 12 ADA-positive samples obtained from a cynomolgus monkey study in early development. Both domain-specific assays were sensitive enough to preserve the positive screening assay result and revealed an overall accordance for the evaluation of domain-specific ADA responses. About half of the samples displayed one ADA specificity, either for the Fab or for the cytokine (Cy) domain, and the remaining samples showed a combination of Fab-specific and Cy-specific ADA fractions. Fc-specific ADAs occurred in only one sample. In-depth comparison of DCAs and DDAs showed that both assays appeared to be appropriate to assess multi-specific ADA responses as well as minor ADA fractions. An advantage of DCAs is typically a fast and easy assay establishment, whereas, DDAs in some cases may be superior to assess low abundant ADAs in multi-specific responses. Our results reveal that both approaches benefit from thorough reagent development as an essential precondition for reliable epitope characterization of ADA responses.