Physicochemical and biological evaluation of JR-131 as a biosimilar to a long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agent darbepoetin alfa.

Renal anemia is predominantly caused by a relative deficiency in erythropoietin (EPO). Conventional treatment for renal anemia includes the use of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) or a long-acting erythropoiesis-activating agent named darbepoetin alfa, which is a modified rhEPO with a carbohydrate chain structure that differs from native hEPO. We have developed a biosimilar to darbepoetin alfa designated JR-131. Here, we comprehensively compare the physicochemical and biological characteristics of JR-131 to darbepoetin alfa. JR-131 demonstrated similar protein structure to the originator, darbepoetin alfa, by peptide mapping and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Additionally, mass spectroscopic analyses and capillary zone electrophoresis revealed similar glycosylation patterns between the two products. Human bone marrow-derived erythroblasts differentiated and proliferated to form colonies with JR-131 to a similar degree as darbepoetin alfa. Finally, JR-131 stimulated erythropoiesis and improved anemia in rats similarly to darbepoetin alfa. Our data show the similarity in physicochemical and biological properties of JR-131 to those of darbepoetin alfa, and JR-131 therefore represents a biosimilar for use in the treatment of renal anemia.

Non-clinical evaluation of JR-051 as a biosimilar to agalsidase beta for the treatment of Fabry disease.

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disease. It is caused by deficiency of the enzyme α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A), which leads to excessive deposition of neutral glycosphingolipids, especially globotriaosylceramide (GL-3), in cells throughout the body. Progressive accumulation of GL-3 causes life-threatening complications in several tissues and organs, including the vasculature, heart, and kidney. Currently available enzyme replacement therapy for FD employs recombinant α-Gal A in two formulations, namely agalsidase alfa and agalsidase beta. Here, we evaluated JR-051 as a biosimilar to agalsidase beta in a non-clinical study. JR-051 was shown to have identical primary and similar higher-order structures to agalsidase beta. Mannose-6-phosphate content was higher in JR-051 than in agalsidase beta, which probably accounts for a slightly better uptake into fibroblasts in vitro. In spite of these differences in in vitro biological features, pharmacokinetic profiles of the two compounds in mice, rats, and monkeys were similar. The ability to reduce GL-3 accumulation in the kidney, heart, skin, liver, spleen, and plasma of Gla-knockout mice, a model of FD, was not different between JR-051 and agalsidase beta. Furthermore, we identified no safety concerns regarding JR-051 in a 13-week evaluation using cynomolgus monkeys. These findings indicate that JR-051 is similar to agalsidase beta in terms of physicochemical and biological properties.

Host Cell Proteins: The Hidden Side of Biosimilarity Assessment.

One major concern with biosimilars is that small differences compared with reference products might lead to unforeseen immunogenicity, thus affecting patient safety and drug efficacy. Differences could be due to either post-translational modifications of the therapeutic protein and/or to traces of impurities from the manufacturing process. The results presented in this communication illustrate the efforts to assess "biosimilarity" of a biosimilar candidate to a reference product for a specific group of process-related impurities, the host cell proteins (HCP). Extensive characterization of HCP in the drug substance of a biosimilar candidate revealed the identity of HCP copurifying with the protein of interest and guided process development to improve overall HCP clearance in the downstream process. The data presented illustrate the challenge of matching the reference product on either quantitative or qualitative aspects of HCP impurities.

Coformulation of a Novel Human α-Galactosidase A With the Pharmacological Chaperone AT1001 Leads to Improved Substrate Reduction in Fabry Mice.

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the gene that encodes α-galactosidase A and is characterized by pathological accumulation of globotriaosylceramide and globotriaosylsphingosine. Earlier, the authors demonstrated that oral coadministration of the pharmacological chaperone AT1001 (migalastat HCl; 1-deoxygalactonojirimycin HCl) prior to intravenous administration of enzyme replacement therapy improved the pharmacological properties of the enzyme. In this study, the authors investigated the effects of coformulating AT1001 with a proprietary recombinant human α-galactosidase A (ATB100) into a single intravenous formulation. AT1001 increased the physical stability and reduced aggregation of ATB100 at neutral pH in vitro, and increased the potency for ATB100-mediated globotriaosylceramide reduction in cultured Fabry fibroblasts. In Fabry mice, AT1001 coformulation increased the total exposure of active enzyme, and increased ATB100 levels in cardiomyocytes, cardiac vascular endothelial cells, renal distal tubular epithelial cells, and glomerular cells, cell types that do not show substantial uptake with enzyme replacement therapy alone. Notably, AT1001 coformulation also leads to greater tissue globotriaosylceramide reduction when compared with ATB100 alone, which was positively correlated with reductions in plasma globotriaosylsphingosine. Collectively, these data indicate that intravenous administration of ATB100 coformulated with AT1001 may provide an improved therapy for Fabry disease and thus warrants further investigation.

Identification and characterization of an outer membrane receptor gene in Acinetobacter baumannii required for utilization of desferricoprogen, rhodotorulic acid, and desferrioxamine B as xenosiderophores.

In this study, we found that Acinetobacter baumannii utilized exogenously supplied desferricoprogen, rhodotorulic acid, and desferrioxamine B for growth under iron-limiting conditions. The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) titration assay method was then successfully applied to select iron-regulated genes in A. baumannii genomic libraries. Part of the nucleotide sequence homologous to Escherichia coli, fhuE, obtained from one of the positive clones allowed us to clone the entire gene, which was named fhuE. The fhuE gene had an amino acid sequence consistent with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 76-kDa iron-repressible outer membrane proteins in A. baumannii. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that fhuE mRNA is transcribed under iron-limiting conditions, consistent with the presence of a sequence homologous to the consensus Fur box in the promoter region. Disruption of fhuE resulted in the loss of expression of the 76-kDa protein. In addition, the double disruptant of fhuE and basD, which encodes one of the biosynthetic genes for the cognate siderophore acinetobactin, was unable to grow in the presence of desferricoprogen, rhodotorulic acid or desferrioxamine B. However, growth of the double disruptant was restored by complementation with fhuE, demonstrating that A. baumannii FhuE functions as the receptor common to coprogen, ferric rhodotorulic acid and ferrioxamine B.

Identification and transcriptional organization of a gene cluster involved in biosynthesis and transport of acinetobactin, a siderophore produced by Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606T.

In order to assimilate iron, Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606(T) produces a siderophore named acinetobactin (Ab) that is composed of equimolar quantities of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), L-threonine and N-hydroxyhistamine. Application of the Fur titration assay system to A. baumannii genomic libraries, followed by further cloning of the regions surrounding the candidate genes, led to the identification of the Ab cluster, which harbours the genetic determinants necessary for the biosynthesis and transport of the siderophore. However, an entA homologue essential for DHBA biosynthesis was not found in this cluster. Functions of potential biosynthetic genes inferred by homology studies suggested that the precursors, DHBA, l-threonine and N-hydroxyhistamine, are linked in steps resembling those of bacterial non-ribosomal peptide synthesis to form Ab. Genes responsible for the two-step biosynthesis of N-hydroxyhistamine from histidine were also identified in this cluster. Their genetic organization suggests that five genes involved in the transport system of ferric Ab into the cell cytosol form an operon. Construction of disruptants of some selected genes followed by phenotypic analysis supported their predicted biological functions. Interestingly, three additional genes probably involved in the intracellular release of iron from ferric Ab and the secretion of nascent Ab are contained in this cluster. Primer extension and RT-PCR analyses suggested that the Ab cluster, which includes 18 genes, is organized in seven transcriptional units originating from respective Fur-regulated promoter-operator regions.