U.S. patent application number 16/573154 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-27 for preparing antibodies from cho cell cultures for conjugation.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEATTLE GENETICS, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is SEATTLE GENETICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Kevin Beam, Bradley Hayes, Robert Lyon, Damon Meyer, John Valliere-Douglass.
Application Number | 20200063180 16/573154 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53180202 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200063180 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beam; Kevin ; et
al. |
February 27, 2020 |
PREPARING ANTIBODIES FROM CHO CELL CULTURES FOR CONJUGATION
Abstract
The invention is based in part on the observation that a CHO
cell oxidizing enzyme, particularly QSOX1, can survive a seemingly
rigorous antibody purification process to reduce subsequent
conjugation efficiency of the antibody to a drug. Whether the
oxidizing enzyme survives the purification procedure depends on
which purification techniques are employed which can vary from one
antibody to another. With knowledge that contamination with a CHO
cell oxidizing enzyme is a potential problem for subsequent
conjugation, a suitable purification scheme can be devised for any
antibody that eliminates or at least reduces CHO oxidizing
enzyme(s) to an acceptable level.
Inventors: |
Beam; Kevin; (Monroe,
WA) ; Meyer; Damon; (Bellevue, WA) ; Hayes;
Bradley; (San Diego, CA) ; Lyon; Robert;
(Sammamish, WA) ; Valliere-Douglass; John;
(Seattle, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SEATTLE GENETICS, INC. |
Bothell |
WA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SEATTLE GENETICS, INC.
Bothell
WA
|
Family ID: |
53180202 |
Appl. No.: |
16/573154 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15039179 |
May 25, 2016 |
10457976 |
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PCT/US2014/066889 |
Nov 21, 2014 |
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16573154 |
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61908568 |
Nov 25, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07K 16/00 20130101;
A61P 35/00 20180101; C12N 5/0682 20130101; C07K 1/1077 20130101;
C12N 9/0051 20130101; C07K 2319/00 20130101; C12Q 1/26 20130101;
A61P 43/00 20180101; C07K 2317/14 20130101; A61K 47/68 20170801;
C12P 21/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C12Q 1/26 20060101
C12Q001/26; C07K 1/107 20060101 C07K001/107; A61K 47/68 20060101
A61K047/68; C07K 16/00 20060101 C07K016/00; C12N 5/071 20060101
C12N005/071; C12P 21/00 20060101 C12P021/00 |
Claims
1. A method of producing a conjugated antibody, comprising: (a)
obtaining a preparation of antibody; (b) testing the preparation
for the presence of a CHO cell sulfhydryl oxidizing enzyme selected
from at least one of quiescin Q6 sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1), Q6
sulfhydryl oxidase 2 (QSOX2), and Augmenter of Liver Regeneration
(ALR); (c) if the enzyme is detected at a detectable level in step
(b), performing a purification step to remove the enzyme to a
non-detectable level, wherein the purification step is selected
from a step of (i) loading the preparation on a protein A column
with a salt wash, (ii) performing depth filtration, (iii) using
anion exchange with a quaternary ammonium ion column, and (iv)
performing phenyl membrane filtration; (d) if the enzyme is not
detected at a detectable level in step (b) or (c), proceeding to
step (d); and (e) conjugating the at least partially purified
antibody via one or more sulfhydryl groups to a drug to produce the
conjugated antibody.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the CHO cell sulfhydryl oxidizing
enzyme is QSOX1.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing comprises identifying
a band of 65-75 kDa on a gel.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the band is identified by western
blot or silver stain.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing comprises a
functional test for QSOX1 activity.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the functional test produces
hydrogen peroxide as an indicator of the activity.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the drug is selected from
anti-tubulin agents, DNA minor groove binding agents, DNA
replication inhibitors, chemotherapy sensitizers and
pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody is an antibody
produced in CHO cells.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing involves monitoring
the reaction between free thiol groups and DTNB in a control sample
and a test sample and comparing the two.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the salt wash has a
concentration of 150-500 mM NaCl.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the depth filtration is
performed at 230 L/m.sup.2/hr and uses at least 15 L/m.sup.2 of an
equilibration buffer with a pH of 7.5-8 and NaCl concentration of
50-100 mM.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the anion exchange with a
quaternary ammonium ion column is performed with a buffer having a
pH of 7.5-8 and a conductivity of less than or equal to 11
mS/cm.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the phenyl membrane filtration
is performed using a buffer having a pH of 6-8 and 0.3-0.4M sodium
citrate.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-detectable level is a
level less than 0.5 .mu.g/ml or 33 ppm.
15. A method of producing a conjugated antibody, comprising
purifying an antibody from a culture of CHO cells by loading the
antibody on a protein A column with a salt wash, wherein the
antibody is separated from QSOX1 enzyme in the culture; and
conjugating the purified antibody via one or more sulfhydryl groups
to a cytotoxic drug to produce the conjugated antibody.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the salt wash has a
concentration of 150-500 mM NaCl.
17. A method of producing a conjugated antibody, comprising
purifying an antibody from a culture of CHO cells by performing
depth filtration, wherein the antibody is separated from QSOX1
enzyme in the culture; and conjugating the purified antibody via
one or more sulfhydryl groups to a cytotoxic drug to produce the
conjugated antibody.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the depth filtration is
performed at 230 L/m.sup.2/hr and uses at least 15 L/m.sup.2 of an
equilibration buffer with a pH of 7.5-8 and NaCl concentration of
50-100 mM.
19. A method of producing a conjugated antibody, comprising
purifying an antibody from a culture of CHO cells by anion exchange
with a quaternary ammonium ion column, wherein the antibody is
separated from QSOX1 enzyme in the culture; and conjugating the
purified antibody via one or more sulfhydryl groups to a cytotoxic
drug to produce the conjugated antibody.
20. An antibody preparation, wherein an amount of CHO cell
sulfhydryl oxidizing enzyme in the preparation is present at a
level less than 0.5 .mu.g/ml or 33 ppm, and wherein the enzyme is
selected from at least one of quiescin Q6 sulfhydryl oxidase 1
(QSOX1), Q6 sulfhydryl oxidase 2 (QSOX2), and Augmenter of Liver
Regeneration (ALR).
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/039,179, filed May 25, 2016, which is a US
national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International
Application No. PCT/US2014/066889, filed Nov. 21, 2014, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/908,568,
filed Nov. 25, 2013, all of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0002] This application includes an electronic sequence listing in
a file named 3100-00112US_Sequence_Listing_ST25.txt created on Aug.
7, 2018 and containing 12 KB, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0003] After hundreds of clinical trials, about thirty monoclonal
antibodies have been approved by the FDA to-date for treating a
variety of indications including cancer, autoimmune disease and
infectious agents. One reason that more antibodies have not been
approved is that mechanisms of action provided by an antibody
alone, such as effector function or blocking receptor-ligand
interactions may not be sufficiently powerful to have a substantial
therapeutic effect. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) provide
additional mechanisms, particularly delivery of a toxic moiety
coupled to the antibody to the interior of a cell, thereby killing
the cell or otherwise inhibiting its proliferation. Currently two
ADCs are marketed: brentuximab vedotin and trastuzumab emtansine.
Many other ADCs are at various stages of development. Production of
ADC's involves antibody expression and purification, followed by
chemical conjugation of the antibody to a drug usually via a
linker.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0004] FIG. 1: Impact of oxidizing impurity on drug load. Samples
were reduced and conjugated at the times indicated. The trend in
which the conjugation level decreases with time indicates the
presence of an oxidizing impurity.
[0005] FIGS. 2a-2c: Oxidizing activity in an antibody preparation
(lot DEVNKB-1) in fractions following SEC separation (FIG. 2a).
Western blot of SEC fractions stained with anti-ALR (Activator of
Liver Regeneration) and anti-QSOX1 antibodies (FIGS. 2b and 2c,
respectively).
[0006] FIGS. 3a-c: Fractionation of an antibody preparation (lot
DEVNKB-1) on a Poros Protein A column (FIG. 3a); oxidizing activity
in each fraction (FIG. 3b); and image of SDS-PAGE gel showing
protein contents of pooled fractions 3 and 4 (FIG. 3c). The arrow
indicates a molecular weight consistent with 70 kDa QSOX1 and 76
kDa QSOX2.
DEFINITIONS
[0007] An isolated antibody or ADC is typically at least 50% w/w
pure of interfering proteins and other contaminants arising from
its production or purification but does not exclude the possibility
that the monoclonal antibody is combined with an excess of
pharmaceutical acceptable carrier(s) or other vehicle intended to
facilitate its use. Sometimes monoclonal antibodies or ADCs are at
least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95 or 99% w/w pure of interfering
proteins and contaminants from production or purification.
[0008] Specific binding of a monoclonal antibody alone or as a
component of an ADC to its target antigen means an affinity of at
least 10.sup.6, 10.sup.7, 10.sup.8, 10.sup.9, or 10.sup.10
M.sup.-1. Specific binding is detectably higher in magnitude and
distinguishable from non-specific binding occurring to at least one
unrelated target. Specific binding can be the result of formation
of bonds between particular functional groups or particular spatial
fit (e.g., lock and key type) whereas nonspecific binding is
usually the result of van der Waals forces. Specific binding does
not however necessarily imply that a monoclonal antibody binds one
and only one target.
[0009] The basic antibody structural unit is a tetramer of
subunits. Each tetramer includes two pairs of polypeptide chains,
each pair having one "light" (about 25 kDa) and one "heavy" chain
(about 50-70 kDa). The amino-terminal portion of each chain
includes a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids
primarily responsible for antigen recognition. This variable region
is initially expressed linked to a cleavable signal peptide. The
variable region without the signal peptide is sometimes referred to
as a mature variable region. Thus, for example, a light chain
mature variable region is a light chain variable region without the
light chain signal peptide. The carboxy-terminal portion of each
chain defines a constant region. The heavy chain constant region is
primarily responsible for effector function.
[0010] Light chains are classified as either kappa or lambda. Heavy
chains are classified as gamma, mu, alpha, delta, or epsilon, and
define the antibody's isotype as IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE,
respectively. Within light and heavy chains, the variable and
constant regions are joined by a "J" region of about 12 or more
amino acids, with the heavy chain also including a "D" region of
about 10 or more amino acids. (See generally, Fundamental
Immunology (Paul, W., ed., 2nd ed. Raven Press, N.Y., 1989, Ch. 7,
incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes).
[0011] The mature variable regions of each light/heavy chain pair
form the antibody binding site. Thus, an intact antibody has two
binding sites. Except in bifunctional or bispecific antibodies, the
two binding sites are the same. The chains all exhibit the same
general structure of relatively conserved framework regions (FR)
joined by three hypervariable regions, also called complementarity
determining regions or CDRs. The CDRs from the two chains of each
pair are aligned by the framework regions, enabling binding to a
specific epitope. From N-terminal to C-terminal, both light and
heavy chains comprise the domains FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3
and FR4. The assignment of amino acids to each domain is in
accordance with the definitions of Kabat, Sequences of Proteins of
Immunological Interest (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
Md., 1987 and 1991), or Chothia & Lesk, J. Mol. Biol.
196:901-917 (1987); Chothia et al., Nature 342:878-883 (1989).
Kabat also provides a widely used numbering convention (Kabat
numbering) in which corresponding residues between different heavy
chains or between different light chains are assigned the same
number.
[0012] The term "antibody" includes intact antibodies and binding
fragments thereof. Typically, antibody fragments compete with the
intact antibody from which they were derived for specific binding
to the target including separate heavy chains, light chains Fab,
Fab', F(ab').sub.2, F(ab)c, diabodies, Dabs, nanobodies, and Fv.
Fragments can be produced by recombinant DNA techniques, or by
enzymatic or chemical separation of intact immunoglobulins. The
term "antibody" also includes a diabody (homodimeric Fv fragment)
or a minibody (V.sub.L-C.sub.H3), a bispecific antibody or the
like. A bispecific or bifunctional antibody is an artificial hybrid
antibody having two different heavy/light chain pairs and two
different binding sites (see, e.g., Songsivilai and Lachmann, Clin.
Exp. Immunol., 79:315-321 (1990); Kostelny et al., J. Immunol.,
148:1547-53 (1992)). The term "antibody" includes an antibody by
itself (naked antibody) or an antibody conjugated to a cytotoxic or
cytostatic drug.
[0013] The term "epitope" refers to a site on an antigen to which
an antibody binds. An epitope can be formed from contiguous amino
acids or noncontiguous amino acids juxtaposed by tertiary folding
of one or more proteins. Epitopes formed from contiguous amino
acids are typically retained on exposure to denaturing solvents
whereas epitopes formed by tertiary folding are typically lost on
treatment with denaturing solvents. An epitope typically includes
at least 3, and more usually, at least 5 or 8-10 amino acids in a
unique spatial conformation. Methods of determining spatial
conformation of epitopes include, for example, x-ray
crystallography and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. See,
e.g., Epitope Mapping Protocols, in Methods in Molecular Biology,
Vol. 66, Glenn E. Morris, Ed. (1996).
[0014] Antibodies that recognize the same or overlapping epitopes
can be identified in a simple immunoassay showing the ability of
one antibody to compete with the binding of another antibody to a
target antigen. The epitope of an antibody can also be defined by
X-ray crystallography of the antibody bound to its antigen to
identify contact residues. Alternatively, two antibodies have the
same epitope if all amino acid mutations in the antigen that reduce
or eliminate binding of one antibody reduce or eliminate binding of
the other. Two antibodies have overlapping epitopes if some amino
acid mutations that reduce or eliminate binding of one antibody
reduce or eliminate binding of the other.
[0015] Competition between antibodies is determined by an assay in
which an antibody under test inhibits specific binding of a
reference antibody to a common antigen (see, e.g., Junghans et al.,
Cancer Res. 50:1495, 1990). A test antibody competes with a
reference antibody if an excess of a test antibody (e.g., at least
2.times., 5.times., 10.times., 20.times. or 100.times.) inhibits
binding of the reference antibody by at least 50% but preferably
75%, 90% or 99% as measured in a competitive binding assay.
Antibodies identified by competition assay (competing antibodies)
include antibodies binding to the same epitope as the reference
antibody and antibodies binding to an adjacent epitope sufficiently
proximal to the epitope bound by the reference antibody for steric
hindrance to occur.
[0016] The term "patient" includes human and other mammalian
subjects that receive either prophylactic or therapeutic
treatment.
[0017] For purposes of classifying amino acids substitutions as
conservative or nonconservative, amino acids are grouped as
follows: Group I (hydrophobic side chains): met, ala, val, leu,
ile; Group II (neutral hydrophilic side chains): cys, ser, thr;
Group III (acidic side chains): asp, glu; Group IV (basic side
chains): asn, gln, his, lys, arg; Group V (residues influencing
chain orientation): gly, pro; and Group VI (aromatic side chains):
trp, tyr, phe. Conservative substitutions involve substitutions
between amino acids in the same class. Non-conservative
substitutions constitute exchanging a member of one of these
classes for a member of another.
[0018] Percentage sequence identities are determined with antibody
sequences maximally aligned by the Kabat numbering convention.
After alignment, if a subject antibody region (e.g., the entire
mature variable region of a heavy or light chain) is being compared
with the same region of a reference antibody, the percentage
sequence identity between the subject and reference antibody
regions is the number of positions occupied by the same amino acid
in both the subject and reference antibody region divided by the
total number of aligned positions of the two regions, with gaps not
counted, multiplied by 100 to convert to percentage.
[0019] Compositions or methods "comprising" one or more recited
elements may include other elements not specifically recited. For
example, a composition that comprises antibody may contain the
antibody alone or in combination with other ingredients.
[0020] Designation of a range of values includes all integers
within or defining the range.
[0021] An antibody effector function refers to a function
contributed by an Fc domain(s) of an Ig. Such functions can be, for
example, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity,
antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis or complement-dependent
cytotoxicity. Such function can be effected by, for example,
binding of an Fc effector domain(s) to an Fc receptor on an immune
cell with phagocytic or lytic activity or by binding of an Fc
effector domain(s) to components of the complement system.
Typically, the effect(s) mediated by the Fc-binding cells or
complement components result in inhibition and/or depletion of the
targeted cell. Fc regions of antibodies can recruit Fc receptor
(FcR)-expressing cells and juxtapose them with antibody-coated
target cells. Cells expressing surface FcR for IgGs including
Fc.gamma.RIII (CD16), Fc.gamma.RII (CD32) and Fc.gamma.RIII (CD64)
can act as effector cells for the destruction of IgG-coated cells.
Such effector cells include monocytes, macrophages, natural killer
(NK) cells, neutrophils and eosinophils. Engagement of Fc.gamma.R
by IgG activates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or
antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). ADCC is mediated
by CD16.sup.+ effector cells through the secretion of membrane
pore-forming proteins and proteases, while phagocytosis is mediated
by CD32.sup.+ and CD64.sup.+ effector cells (see Fundamental
Immunology, 4.sup.th ed., Paul ed., Lippincott-Raven, N.Y., 1997,
Chapters 3, 17 and 30; Uchida et al., 2004, J. Exp. Med.
199:1659-69; Akewanlop et al., 2001, Cancer Res. 61:4061-65;
Watanabe et al., 1999, Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 53:199-207). In
addition to ADCC and ADCP, Fc regions of cell-bound antibodies can
also activate the complement classical pathway to elicit
complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). C1q of the complement
system binds to the Fc regions of antibodies when they are
complexed with antigens. Binding of C1q to cell-bound antibodies
can initiate a cascade of events involving the proteolytic
activation of C4 and C2 to generate the C3 convertase. Cleavage of
C3 to C3b by C3 convertase enables the activation of terminal
complement components including C5b, C6, C7, C8 and C9.
Collectively, these proteins form membrane-attack complex pores on
the antibody-coated cells. These pores disrupt the cell membrane
integrity, killing the target cell (see Immunobiology, 6.sup.th
ed., Janeway et al., Garland Science, N.Y., 2005, Chapter 2).
[0022] The term "antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity", or
ADCC, is a mechanism for inducing cell death that depends upon the
interaction of antibody-coated target cells with immune cells
possessing lytic activity (also referred to as effector cells).
Such effector cells include natural killer cells,
monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils. The effector cells attach to
an Fc effector domain(s) of Ig bound to target cells via their
antigen-combining sites. Death of the antibody-coated target cell
occurs as a result of effector cell activity.
[0023] The term "antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis", or
ADCP, refers to the process by which antibody-coated cells are
internalized, either in whole or in part, by phagocytic immune
cells (e.g., macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells) that
bind to an Fc effector domain(s) of Ig.
[0024] The term "complement-dependent cytotoxicity", or CDC, refers
to a mechanism for inducing cell death in which an Fc effector
domain(s) of a target-bound antibody activates a series of
enzymatic reactions culminating in the formation of holes in the
target cell membrane. Typically, antigen-antibody complexes such as
those on antibody-coated target cells bind and activate complement
component C1q which in turn activates the complement cascade
leading to target cell death. Activation of complement may also
result in deposition of complement components on the target cell
surface that facilitate ADCC by binding complement receptors (e.g.,
CR3) on leukocytes.
[0025] A "cytotoxic effect" refers to the depletion, elimination
and/or the killing of a target cell. A "cytotoxic agent" refers to
an agent that has a cytotoxic effect on a cell. Cytotoxic agents
can be conjugated to an antibody or administered in combination
with an antibody.
[0026] A "cytostatic effect" refers to the inhibition of cell
proliferation. A "cytostatic agent" refers to an agent that has a
cytostatic effect on a cell, thereby inhibiting the growth and/or
expansion of a specific subset of cells. Cytostatic agents can be
conjugated to an antibody or administered in combination with an
antibody.
[0027] The term "pharmaceutically acceptable" means approved or
approvable by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state
government or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia or other generally
recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and more particularly
in humans. The term "pharmaceutically compatible ingredient" refers
to a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or
vehicle with which an antibody or ADC is combined.
[0028] The phrase "pharmaceutically acceptable salt," refers to
pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic salts of an
antibody or conjugate thereof or agent administered with an
antibody. Exemplary salts include sulfate, citrate, acetate,
oxalate, chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, bisulfate, phosphate,
acid phosphate, isonicotinate, lactate, salicylate, acid citrate,
tartrate, oleate, tannate, pantothenate, bitartrate, ascorbate,
succinate, maleate, gentisinate, fumarate, gluconate, glucuronate,
saccharate, formate, benzoate, glutamate, methanesulfonate,
ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p toluenesulfonate, and pamoate
(i.e., 1,1' methylene bis-(2 hydroxy 3 naphthoate)) salts. A
pharmaceutically acceptable salt may involve the inclusion of
another molecule such as an acetate ion, a succinate ion or other
counterion. The counterion may be any organic or inorganic moiety
that stabilizes the charge on the parent compound. Furthermore, a
pharmaceutically acceptable salt may have more than one charged
atom in its structure. Instances where multiple charged atoms are
part of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt can have multiple
counter ions. Hence, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt can have
one or more charged atoms and/or one or more counterion.
[0029] CHO cells refer to Chinese hamster ovary cells and include
various strains including, for example, DG44, Dxb11, CHO-K, CHO-K1
and CHO-S.
[0030] The phrase "drug load" or "conjugation ratio" refers to the
average number of drugs per antibody in an ADC solution or
composition or reaction mixture.
[0031] Unless otherwise apparent from the context, the term "about"
encompasses values within a standard deviation of a stated
value.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
I. General
[0032] The invention is based in part on the observation that a CHO
cell oxidizing enzyme, particularly quiescin Q6 sulfhydryl oxidase
1 (QSOX1), can survive a seemingly rigorous antibody purification
process and be present in a sufficient amount in an antibody
preparation to lower subsequent conjugation loading efficiency of
the antibody to a drug. Although the purification process may
appear to result in an antibody having an acceptably low proportion
of background contaminants/impurities to antibody, sufficient
amounts of the oxidizing enzyme may nevertheless be present to
result in sulfhydryl groups on the antibody being oxidized
following antibody reduction and thus unavailable for conjugation
to a drug. Although practice of the invention is not dependent on
understanding of mechanism, persistence of QSOX1 through to the
purified antibody product may be the result of interaction between
the antibody and QSOX1 under some purification conditions. Whether
the oxidizing enzyme survives the purification procedure depends on
which purification techniques are employed, which can vary from one
antibody to another. Before identification of the potential for the
presence of a seemingly pure preparation of antibody with small but
significant amounts of CHO cell oxidizing enzyme, a poor
conjugation loading efficiency (reflected by inadequate mean ratio
of drugs to antibody) may have been incorrectly attributed to any
of numerous causes. However, with knowledge that contamination with
a CHO cell oxidizing enzyme is a potential problem for subsequent
conjugation, a suitable purification scheme can be devised for any
antibody that eliminates or at least reduces CHO oxidizing
enzyme(s) to an acceptable level.
II. CHO Cell Oxidative Enzymes
[0033] QSOX1 is the Chinese hamster homolog of human QSOX1,
Swiss-Prot 000391. The enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of sulfhydryl
groups to disulfides with the reduction of oxygen. Reference to
QSOX1 refers to a full-length QSOX1 enzyme (with or without the
signal peptide) and any fragment thereof, including
naturally-occurring variants thereof, retaining sulfhydryl
oxidizing ability whether naturally released by CHO cells or
released as a result of an antibody purification process. QSOX1 in
CHO cell culture media gives a band of apparent size range 65-75
kDa, or more specifically, 68-72 kDa. Exemplary QSOX1 fragments can
comprise an extracellular domain, a thioredoxin domain and/or an
ERV/ALR sulfhydryl oxidase domain. A predicted QSOX1 isoform X1
protein sequence has previously been identified as that set forth
in SEQ ID NO:1 and found as GenBank Accession Number
XP_003500174.1. The QSOX1 predicted isoform X1 protein sequence has
since been updated. The updated sequence is as set forth in SEQ ID
NO:2 and can be found as GenBank Accession Number XP_007639037.1.
In some aspects, QSOX1 refers to a CHO cell oxidizing enzyme having
90% or higher (91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% or
100%) sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2 and retaining sulfhydryl
oxidizing ability. In some aspects, QSOX1 refers to a CHO cell
oxidizing enzyme comprising the amino acid sequence ranging from
the 94.sup.th amino acid to the 571.sup.rst amino acid of SEQ ID
NO:2 and retaining sulfhydryl oxidizing ability.
[0034] Other CHO cell enzymes that may be present as impurities
include QSOX2 (CHO homolog of human Swiss-Prot Q6ZRP7) and the ALR
(Activator of Liver Regeneration) sulfhydryl oxidase. For brevity,
the following description refers primarily to QSOX1 but should be
understood as referring alternatively or additionally to QSOX2, ALR
or other CHO cells oxidizing enzymes surviving purification.
III. Purification Methods to Remove QSOX1 and Other CHO Cell
Oxidizing Enzymes
[0035] The application provides several techniques available to
identify and to remove QSOX1 and other CHO cell oxidizing enzymes,
such as QSOX2 or ALR (see Examples for more details). One technique
is to load a preparation of antibody on a Protein A column, and
wash under moderate or high salt conditions (e.g., at least 150 mM
NaCl, or 150-500 mM NaCl). QSOX1 elutes from the column whereas the
antibody remains bound. Another technique is depth filtration using
e.g., a Millipore X0HC membrane. The antibody passes through the
filter, whereas QSOX1 is trapped by the filter. Another technique
is anion exchange chromatography, preferably using a strong anion
exchanger with quaternary ammonium groups. A Capto-Q column from GE
Healthcare is suitable. Under appropriate conditions (e.g., pH
about 8 and conductivity about 5-7 mS/cm) the antibody flows though
the column, whereas QSOX1 remains bound. A further technique is
phenyl-membrane filtration. This type of membrane separates based
on hydrophobic interactions. Under appropriate conditions (e.g., pH
6-8 and sodium citrate 0.35-0.4M), the antibody passes through and
QSOX1 binds to the membrane.
IV. Testing for Removal
[0036] QSOX1 can be detected by a variety of assays, as further
described in the Examples, including Western blot with an antibody
specific to QSOX1. QSOX1 can also be detected by peptide sequence
analysis or LC-MS/MS on a band of appropriate molecular weight (ca.
65-70 kDa depending on glycosylation state) excised from a gel.
QSOX1 can also be detected by a functional assay. QSOX1 activity
generates hydrogen peroxide, which can in turn be detected by a
simple color change resulting from oxidation of Fe2+ in the
presence of xylenol orange. The characteristic functional activity
of QSOX1 is specifically inhibited by Zn2+ (e.g., at least 90%) but
not EDTA and many other salts (KI, MnSO4, NaCl) or urea. QSOX1 can
also be detected by a DTNB assay as demonstrated in Example 2.
[0037] QSOX1 is considered present if detectable above negative
control levels (beyond experimental error) in any of the assays
described below or in the examples. In some aspects, levels of
QSOX1 as low as 1 ug/ml or 66 ppm can inhibit antibody drug loading
efficiency. Thus, in some aspects, an acceptable level can mean
less than 0.5 ug/ml or 33 ppm, and preferably less than 0.1 ug/ml
or 6 ppm, or less than 0.01 ug/ml or 0.6 ppm. Preferably, the level
of QSOX1 is within negative control levels as determined by any of
the assays formats described in the Examples.
[0038] Alternatively or additionally, an acceptable level of QSOX1
can be defined as a level at or below which an acceptable
conjugation ratio of drug to antibody can be obtained. An
acceptable conjugation ratio is preferably one that is within 90%,
91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% of the target
conjugation ratio. Parameters that can affect conjugation ratio and
can be controlled to achieve a target conjugation ratio include,
for example, the reductive conditions for the antibody (e.g.
reductant type and concentration relative to antibody
concentration), the concentration of drug-linker relative to
antibody, the conjugation reaction time, and the conjugation
reaction temperature. Preferably, the level of QSOX1 is such that
it (a) does not prevent the correct extent of reduction from being
achieved during the antibody reduction reaction and/or (b) it does
not re-oxidize the reduced thiols immediately following reduction
but prior to conjugation. In other words, preferably, the level of
QSOX1 is such that it does not interfere with the reduction of the
antibody or the stability of the reduced antibody.
[0039] Alternatively or additionally, an acceptable level of QSOX1
can be defined as a level that produces a value of 0.1 or less
absorbance units in a DTNB assay or a ferrous oxidation xylenol
orange assay. Briefly, a DTNB assay is one in which the reaction
between free thiol groups in a control sample and test sample is
measured and compared. See, for example, Example 2. In a ferrous
oxidation xylenol orange assay, hydrogen peroxide is measured as an
indicator of activity. See, for example, Example 1.
V. Work Flow Scheme
[0040] CHO cells are transformed with vector(s) encoding the chains
of an antibody to be expressed and are cultured to express the
antibody. Expression is usually initially conducted on a relatively
small culture volume (e.g., 1-50 L) for purposes of providing
sufficient antibody to determine a purification scheme. The culture
media containing expressed antibody is then subject to at least one
step of an antibody purification scheme to obtain a level of purity
suitable for chemical conjugation or pharmaceutical use (e.g., at
least 90, 95, 97, 98 or 99% w/w antibody to macromolecular
contaminants/impurities). The purification scheme usually includes
at least two column chromatography steps, at least one and usually
multiple filtration steps, a viral inactivation step, and a
concentration and resuspension/dilution step. After completion of
any one or all of the purification steps, the antibody preparation
can be tested for presence of QSOX1. If QSOX is detected above
background of a negative control assay (beyond experimental error)
or is detected above a level deemed unacceptable for subsequent
conjugation, purification of the initial culture (or another
similar culture if insufficient amount of the initial culture is
available) is repeated with a second (different) purification step
and/or scheme. The second purification step and/or scheme may
differ from the first in the type of purification (e.g., anion vs.
cation ion exchange chromatography, type of membrane used for
filtration), or the buffers used for loading or elution, among
other variations.
[0041] After or during conducting the second purification
step/scheme, the resulting antibody preparation can be tested for
QSOX1. If QSOX1 is detected at above background or above a level
otherwise determined as acceptable, then purification is performed
with a further purification scheme with or without further testing
for QSOX1 enzyme. Whether after the first purification scheme,
second or subsequent, a preparation of antibody is eventually
obtained in which QSOX1 is either not detected above background or
is detected but at a level deemed acceptable.
[0042] Having determined a purification scheme that reduces QSOX1
beyond the detection limit or at least to an acceptable level, a
second culture, sometimes referred to as a production culture, of
CHO cells is performed. Culture medium is subject to the
purification step/scheme already determined to have been effective
for purifying antibody and removing QSOX1. The resulting purified
antibody is reduced and subsequently conjugated to an agent, e.g.,
a drug.
[0043] The second or production culture is typically larger than
the primary culture used for determining a purification scheme. For
example, the production culture may be at least 100 or 1000 times
larger by volume than the primary culture. The production culture
is typically performed repeatedly (batch culture) or continuously
over a period of at least a year (e.g., over a period of at least
five years), as is the purification of the antibody from that
culture by the purification scheme previously determined to
successfully purify the antibody without QSOX1.
[0044] In an alternative work flow, culture medium from CHO cells
is subject to an antibody purification procedure without
necessarily testing for QSOX1 enzyme, and the purified preparation
is subject to chemical conjugation to a drug. If the conjugation
loading efficiency (mean drug/antibody) is unexpectedly low (i.e.,
number of drug molecules to antibody is less than the target), then
the purified preparation is tested for presence of QSOX1. If the
enzyme is present at above background level or above a level deemed
acceptable, then antibody is purified from CHO cell culture medium
by a different purification method followed by testing for QSOX1
enzyme. Purification by a different method followed by testing for
QSOX1 is then, if necessary, performed iteratively until a
purification method is found that both purifies the antibody from
contaminants/impurities in general to give an acceptable purity,
and removes QSOX1 to background level or a level otherwise deemed
acceptable for conjugation. When such a purification method is
found, it can be used to prepare antibody from a second culture of
CHO cells. The purified antibody is then conjugated to a drug via
one or more free sulfhydryl groups.
VI. Conjugation of Antibodies to Drugs
[0045] Antibodies can be conjugated to cytotoxic or cytostatic
moieties (including pharmaceutically compatible salts thereof) to
form an antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Antibodies can be conjugated
to agents other than drugs, for example, stability agents (e.g.,
PEG moieties). Particularly suitable moieties for conjugation to
antibodies are cytotoxic agents (e.g., chemodrugs), prodrug
converting enzymes, radioactive isotopes or compounds, or toxins
(these moieties being collectively referred to as drugs). For
example, an antibody can be conjugated to a cytotoxic agent such as
a chemodrug, or a toxin (e.g., a cytostatic or cytocidal agent such
as, e.g., abrin, ricin A, pseudomonas exotoxin, or diphtheria
toxin).
[0046] For the purposes of the present invention, drugs are
conjugated to antibodies, via sulfhydryl groups on the antibody.
The sulfhydryl groups can be sulfhydryl groups on cysteine side
chains. The cysteine residues can be naturally present in an
antibody (e.g., interchain disulfides) or introduced by other
means, e.g., mutagenesis. Methods of conjugating drugs to
sulfhydryl groups on antibodies are well-known in the art (see,
e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,659,241, 7,498,298, and International
Publication No. WO 2011/130613). Antibodies are reduced prior to
conjugation in order to render sulfhydryl groups available for
conjugation. Antibodies can be reduced using known conditions in
the art. Reducing conditions are those that generally do not cause
any substantial denaturation of the antibody and generally do not
affect the antigen binding affinity of the antibody. In one aspect,
the reducing agent used in the reduction step is TCEP
(tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine) and the TCEP is added at an excess
for 30 minutes at room temperature. For example, 250 uL of a 10 mM
solution of TCEP at pH 7.4 will readily reduce the interchain
disulfides of 1 to 100 ug of antibody in 30 minutes at room
temperature. Other reducing agents and conditions, however, can be
used. Examples of reaction conditions include temperatures from
5.degree. C. to 37.degree. C. over a pH range of 5 to 8. The
present inventors have found that oxidation of sulfhydryls to
disulfides by an oxidizing enzyme such as QSOX1 after reduction by
a reducing agent can render sulfhydryl groups unavailable for
conjugation.
[0047] The drug can be conjugated to the antibody in a manner that
reduces its activity unless it is cleaved off the antibody (e.g.,
by hydrolysis, by antibody degradation or by a cleaving agent).
Such a drug is attached to the antibody with a cleavable linker
that is sensitive to cleavage in the intracellular environment of a
target cell but is not substantially sensitive to the extracellular
environment, such that the drug is cleaved from the antibody when
the ADC is internalized by the target cell (e.g., in the endosomal
or, for example by virtue of pH sensitivity or protease
sensitivity, in the lysosomal environment or in the caveolear
environment).
[0048] Typically the ADC comprises a linker between the drug and
the antibody. As noted supra, the linker may be cleavable under
intracellular conditions, such that cleavage of the linker releases
the drug from the antibody in the intracellular environment (e.g.,
within a lysosome or endosome or caveolea). The linker can be,
e.g., a peptidyl linker that is cleaved by an intracellular
peptidase or protease enzyme, including a lysosomal or endosomal
protease. Typically, the peptidyl linker is at least two amino
acids long or at least three amino acids long. Cleaving agents can
include cathepsins Band D and plasmin (see, e.g., Dubowchik and
Walker, 1999, Pharm. Therapeutics 83:67-123). Most typical are
peptidyl linkers that are cleavable by enzymes that are present in
target cells. For example, a peptidyl linker that is cleavable by
the thiol-dependent protease cathepsin-B, which is highly expressed
in cancerous tissue, can be used (e.g., a linker comprising a
Phe-Leu or a Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly (SEQ ID NO:3) peptide). Other such
linkers are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,345. An
exemplary peptidyl linker cleavable by an intracellular protease
comprises a Val-Cit linker or a Phe-Lys dipeptide (see, e.g., U.S.
Pat. No. 6,214,345, which describes the synthesis of doxorubicin
with the Val-Cit linker). One advantage of using intracellular
proteolytic release of the drug is that the agent is typically
attenuated when conjugated and the serum stabilities of the
conjugates are typically high.
[0049] The cleavable linker can be pH-sensitive, i.e., sensitive to
hydrolysis at certain pH values. Typically, the pH-sensitive linker
is hydrolyzable under acidic conditions. For example, an
acid-labile linker that is hydrolyzable in the lysosome (e.g., a
hydrazone, semicarbazone, thiosemicarbazone, cis-aconitic amide,
orthoester, acetal, ketal, or the like) can be used. (See, e.g.,
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,122,368; 5,824,805; 5,622,929; Dubowchik and
Walker, 1999, Pharm. Therapeutics 83:67-123; Neville et al., 1989,
Biol. Chem. 264:14653-14661.) Such linkers are relatively stable
under neutral pH conditions, such as those in the blood, but are
unstable at below pH 5.5 or 5.0, the approximate pH of the
lysosome.
[0050] Other linkers are cleavable under reducing conditions (e.g.,
a disulfide linker). Disulfide linkers include those that can be
formed using SATA (N-succinimidyl-S-acetylthioacetate), SPDP
(N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate), SPDB
(N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)butyrate) and SMPT
(N-succinimidyl-oxycarbonyl-alpha-methyl-alpha-(2-pyridyl-dithio)toluene)-
, SPDB and SMPT. (See, e.g., Thorpe et al., 1987, Cancer Res.
47:5924-5931; Wawrzynczak et al., In Immunoconjugates: Antibody
Conjugates in Radioimagery and Therapy of Cancer (C. W. Vogel ed.,
Oxford U. Press, 1987. See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,935).
[0051] The linker can also be a malonate linker (Johnson et al.,
1995, Anticancer Res. 15:1387-93), a maleimidobenzoyl linker (Lau
et al., 1995, Bioorg-Med-Chem. 3(10):1299-1304), or a 3'-N-amide
analog (Lau et al., 1995, Bioorg-Med-Chem. 3(10):1305-12).
[0052] The linker also can be a non-cleavable linker, such as an
maleimido-alkylene- or maleimide-aryl linker that is directly
attached to the drug (e.g., a drug) and released by degradation of
the antibody.
[0053] The linker is one that that comprises a functional group
that is reactive to a group present on the antibody. In some
aspects, the linker is linked to the antibody via a disulfide bond
between a sulfur atom of the linker and a sulfur atom of the
antibody. In other aspects, the linker forms a bond with a sulfur
atom of the antibody via a maleimide group of the linker. In some
aspects, the sulfur atom is from a cysteine residue of an
interchain disulfide or from a cysteine residue introduced into the
antibody (e.g., at position 239 according to the EU index).
[0054] Useful classes of cytotoxic agents to conjugate to
antibodies include, for example, antitubulin agents, DNA minor
groove binding agents, DNA replication inhibitors, chemotherapy
sensitizers, pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimers or the like. Other
exemplary classes of cytotoxic agents include anthracyclines,
auristatins, camptothecins, duocarmycins, etoposides, maytansinoids
and vinca alkaloids. Some exemplary cytotoxic agents include
auristatins (e.g., auristatin E, AFP, MMAF, MMAE), DNA minor groove
binders (e.g., enediynes and lexitropsins), duocarmycins, taxanes
(e.g., paclitaxel and docetaxel), maytansinoids, benzodiazepines
(e.g., pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepines, indolinobenzodiazepines, and
oxazolidinobenzodiazepines), vinca alkaloids, doxorubicin,
morpholino-doxorubicin, and cyanomorpholino-doxorubicin.
[0055] The cytotoxic agent can be a chemotherapeutic such as, for
example, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, melphalan, vinca alkaloids,
methotrexate, mitomycin C or etoposide. The agent can also be a
CC-1065 analogue, calicheamicin, maytansine, an analog of
dolastatin 10, rhizoxin, or palytoxin.
[0056] The cytotoxic agent can also be an auristatin. The
auristatin can be an auristatin E derivative is, e.g., an ester
formed between auristatin E and a keto acid. For example,
auristatin E can be reacted with paraacetyl benzoic acid or
benzoylvaleric acid to produce AEB and AEVB, respectively. Other
auristatins include AFP, MMAF, and MMAE. The synthesis and
structure of various auristatins are described in, for example, US
2005-0238649 and US2006-0074008.
[0057] The cytotoxic agent can be a DNA minor groove binding agent.
(See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,237.) For example, the minor groove
binding agent can be a CBI compound or an enediyne (e.g.,
calicheamicin).
[0058] The cytotoxic or cytostatic agent can be an anti-tubulin
agent. Examples of anti-tubulin agents include taxanes (e.g.,
Taxol.RTM. (paclitaxel), Taxotere.RTM. (docetaxel)), T67 (Tularik),
vinca alkyloids (e.g., vincristine, vinblastine, vindesine, and
vinorelbine), and auristatins (e.g., auristatin E, AFP, MMAF, MMAE,
AEB, AEVB). Other suitable antitubulin agents include, for example,
baccatin derivatives, taxane analogs (e.g., epothilone A and B),
nocodazole, colchicine and colcimid, estramustine, cryptophysins,
cemadotin, maytansinoids, combretastatins, discodermolide, and
eleutherobin.
[0059] The cytotoxic agent can be a maytansinoid, another group of
anti-tubulin agents. For example, the maytansinoid can be
maytansine or a maytansine containing drug linker such as DM-1 or
DM-4 (ImmunoGen, Inc.; see also Chari et al., 1992, Cancer Res.
52:127-131).
[0060] Exemplary antibody drug conjugates include vcMMAE and mcMMAF
antibody drug conjugates as follows wherein p represents the drug
loading and ranges from 1 to 20 and Ab is an antibody:
##STR00001##
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
VII. Antibody Purification Methods
[0061] A large repertoire of techniques are known for purification
of protein from CHO supernatant. These techniques include
centrifugation, filtration, precipitation, viral inactivation and
numerous types of column chromatography including protein-A,
protein-G, protein-L, anion-exchange, cation exchange, mixed-mode,
hydroxyapatite, size exclusion chromatography, and target affinity
chromatography. Chromatography steps usually employ at least two
buffers, one for loading and one for elution. Buffers can vary in
pH and ionic strength, among other factors. An exemplary antibody
purification includes at least one filtration step, at least one
viral inactivation step, a protein-A column and at least one other
column. Given the number of different techniques and possibilities
for buffers, pH and other excipients in loading and elution
solutions, the number of different purification procedures is very
large. Suitable purification procedures for different antibodies
are therefore often determined empirically to identify a procedure
that both purifies the antibody to a level acceptable for
pharmaceutical use (determined by ratio of antibody to
macromolecular contaminants/impurities in general) and in which
QSOX1 and/or other CHO cell oxidizing enzymes are reduced below a
detectable level or at least to an acceptable level.
[0062] Ammonium sulfate precipitation can be used to enrich and
concentrate antibodies from serum, ascites fluid or cell culture
supernatant. As the concentration of this lyotropic salt is
increased in a sample, proteins and other macromolecules become
progressively less soluble until they precipitate. Antibodies
precipitate at lower concentrations of ammonium sulfate than most
other proteins and components of serum. The selectivity, yield,
purity and reproducibility of precipitation depends on several
factors, including time, temperature, pH and salt content.
[0063] Cellular contaminants of antibodies can be flocculated using
acidic or cationic polyelectrolytes. Polyelectrolytes normally work
by adsorbing to a particle to create an oppositely charged patch on
the surface. This patch can then adhere to a bare patch on an
opposing particle surface due to electrostatic attraction.
[0064] Depth filters can be used in the clarification of cell
culture broths, to maintain capacity on membrane filters or to
protect chromatography columns or virus filters. Depth filters are
typically made of cellulose, a porous filter-aid such as
diatomaceous earth and an ionic charged resin binder. Depth filters
can employ both size exclusion and adsorptive binding to effect
separation.
[0065] Membrane chromatography or membrane adsorbers function
similarly to packed chromatography columns, but in the format of
conventional filtration modules. Membrane chromatography uses
microporous membranes, usually in multiple layers that contain
functional ligands attached to the internal pore surface throughout
the membrane structure. Commercially available Q membranes include
ChromaSorb.TM. (Millipore), Mustang.RTM. (Pall) and Sartobind.RTM.
(Sartorius). Around neutral to slightly basic pH and at low
conductivities, viruses, DNA, endotoxin, a large population of host
cell proteins and leached Protein A bind to the Q membrane, whereas
the typically basic antibody molecules flow through the membrane
matrix without being bound.
[0066] Ultrafiltration is a pressure-driven membrane process that
is widely used for antibody concentration and buffer exchange.
Ultrafiltration is a size-based separation in which species larger
than the membrane pores are retained and smaller species pass
through freely. Separation in ultrafiltration is achieved through
differences in the filtration rates of different components across
the membrane under a given pressure driving force. Buffer exchange
is achieved using a diafiltration mode in which buffer of the final
desired composition is added to the retentate system at the same
rate in which filtrate is removed, thus maintaining a constant
retentate volume. Ultrafiltration with membrane pores ranging from
1 to 20 nm can provide separation of species ranging in molecular
weight from 500 daltons to 1,000 kilodaltons.
[0067] High performance tangential flow filtration (HPTFF) is a
two-dimensional unit operation in which both size and charge
differences are utilized for the purpose of purification and
separation. Protein concentration and buffer exchange can be
accomplished in the same unit operation.
[0068] Viruses can be inactivated by treatment at low pH and/or
removed by various methods including filtration. Current
virus-retentive filters are ultrafilters or microfilters with very
small pores. Virus filtration membranes are made from hydrophilic
polyethersulfone (PES), hydrophilic polyvinylidene difluoride
(PVDF) and regenerated cellulose.
[0069] Ion exchange chromatography uses positively or negatively
charged resins to bind proteins based on their net charges in a
given buffer system Conditions (e.g., pH and ionic strength) can be
determined that bind and release the target antibody with a high
degree of specificity. Conversely, conditions can be found that
bind nearly all other sample components except antibodies. Anion
exchange chromatography uses a positively charged group, which can
be weakly basic, such as diethylamino ethyl (DEAE) or dimethylamino
ethyl (DMAE), or strongly basic, such as trimethylammonium ethyl
(TMAE) or quaternary aminoethyl (QAE).
[0070] Cation exchange chromatography uses a resin modified with
negatively charged functional groups. Cation and anion
chromatograph are complementary techniques: molecules that bind
strongly to one bind weakly if at all to the other.
[0071] Cation exchange columns can be strong acidic ligands such as
sulphopropyl, sulfoethyl and sulfoisobutyl groups or weak acidic
ligand such as carboxyl group. Cation exchange chromatography has
been applied for purification processes for many mAbs with pI
values ranging from about neutral or at little below (e.g., about
6) to basic. Most humanized IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses are good
candidates for cation exchange chromatography, in which the
antibody is bound onto the resin during the loading step and eluted
through either increasing conductivity or increasing pH in the
elution buffer. Negatively charged process-related impurities such
as DNA, some host cell protein, leached Protein A and endotoxin are
removed in the load and wash fraction. Cation exchange
chromatography can also separate deamidated products, oxidized
species and N-terminal truncated forms, as well as high molecular
weight species from the desired antibody. Binding of antibodies on
cation exchange resins depends on pH and conductivity, and resin
type. SP Sepharose FF and SP Sepharose XL are two common
commercially available resins.
[0072] Hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) is a useful
tool for separating proteins based on their hydrophobicity, and is
complementary to other techniques that separate proteins based on
charge, size or affinity. The sample is typically loaded on the HIC
column in a high salt buffer. The salt in the buffer interacts with
water molecules to reduce solvation of the protein molecules in
solution, thereby exposing hydrophobic regions in the sample
protein molecules that consequently bind to the HIC resin. The more
hydrophobic the molecule, the less salt is needed to promote
binding.
[0073] Immobilized metal chelate chromatography uses
chelate-immobilized divalent metal ions (e.g., copper, cobalt or
nickel) to bind proteins or peptides that contain clusters of three
or more consecutive histidine residues. The strategy is most often
used to purify recombinant proteins that have been engineered to
contain a terminal 6.times.His fusion tag. IgGs are one of the few
abundant proteins in serum (or monoclonal hybridoma cell culture
supernatant) that possess histidine clusters capable of being bound
by immobilized nickel. Conditions for binding and elution can be
optimized for particular samples to provide gentle and reliable
antibody purification.
[0074] Protein A, Protein G and Protein L, including recombinant
versions thereof, are exemplary proteins used routinely for
affinity purification of key antibody types from a variety of
species. Protein A chromatography typically involves passage of
clarified cell culture supernatant over the column at pH 6-8, under
which conditions the antibodies bind and unwanted components such
as host cell proteins and cell culture media components and viruses
flow through the column. An optional intermediate wash step may be
carried out to remove non-specifically bound impurities from the
column, followed by elution of the product at pH 2.5-4. There are
currently three major types of Protein A resins, classified based
on their resin backbone composition: glass or silica-based, e.g.,
Prosep vA, Prosep vA Ultra (Millipore); agarose-based, e.g.,
Protein A Sepharose Fast Flow, MabSelect (GE Healthcare); and
organic polymer based, e.g., polystyrene-divinylbenzene Poros A and
MabCapture (Applied Biosystems). Several elution buffer components
such as acetic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, arginine HCl and
glycine HCl can be used depending on the antibody. The selection of
elution pH is also dependent on the binding affinity of the
antibody to the resin, antibodies with a higher binding affinity,
requiring a lower elution pH.
[0075] Ceramic hydroxyapatite (Ca.sub.5(PO.sub.4).sub.3OH).sub.2 is
a form of calcium phosphate that can be used often with a sodium
phosphate gradient elution for separating antibodies from dimers,
aggregates and leached Protein A among other contaminants.
[0076] Techniques for removing QSOX1, in particular, are described
herein and in the Examples section and can be used in addition to,
or in combination with, any of the above methods.
VIII. Exemplary Antibodies
[0077] The purification methods and work flows described can be
used for any antibody, including non-human, humanized, human,
chimeric, veneered, nanobodies, dAbs, scFV's, Fabs, and the like.
The present methods are most useful for antibodies to be conjugated
to an agent for diagnostic or therapeutic use. For example, the
method are useful for antibodies to be conjugated to a drug for
therapeutic use. Some such antibodies are immunospecific for a
cancer cell antigen, preferably one on the cell surface
internalizable within a cell on antibody binding. Targets to which
antibodies can be directed include receptors on cancer cells and
their ligands or counter-receptors (e.g., CD3, CD19, CD20, CD22,
CD30, CD33, CD34, CD40, CD44, CD52 CD70, CD79a, Her-2, VEGF or
VEGFR, CTLA-4, LIV-1, and nectin-4).
[0078] The present methods are also useful for purifying antibodies
to be used to make ADC's for the treatment or prophylaxis of an
autoimmune disease.
[0079] The present methods are also useful for purifying antibodies
that bind to a receptor or a receptor complex expressed on an
activated lymphocyte.
[0080] The present methods are also useful for purifying antibodies
specific for a viral or a microbial antigen.
[0081] Some examples of commercial antibodies and their targets
suitable for application of the present methods include
alemtuzumab, CD52, rituximab, CD20, trastuzumab Her/neu,
nimotuzumab, cetuximab, EGFR, bevacizumab, VEGF, palivizumab, RSV,
abciximab, GpIIb/IIIa, infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab,
golimumab TNF-alpha, baciliximab, daclizumab, IL-2, omalizumab,
IgE, gemtuzumab, CD33, natalizumab, VLA-4, vedolizumab alpha4beta7,
belimumab, BAFF, otelixizumab, teplizumab CD3, ofatumumab,
ocrelizumab CD20, epratuzumab CD22, alemtuzumumab CD52, eculizumab
C5, canakimumab IL-1beta, mepolizumab IL-5, reslizumab, tocilizumab
IL-6R, ustekinumab, and briakinumab IL-12. Optionally, the antibody
is not brentuximab.
IX. Methods of Treatment and Pharmaceutical Compositions
[0082] ADCs produced in accordance with the methods described above
are administered in an effective regime meaning a dosage, route of
administration and frequency of administration that delays the
onset, reduces the severity, inhibits further deterioration, and/or
ameliorates at least one sign or symptom of the disease it is
intended to treat, such as cancer, autoimmune disease or infection
including any of the indications discussed above. If a patient is
already suffering from the disease, the regime can be referred to
as a therapeutically effective regime. If the patient is at
elevated risk of the disease relative to the general population but
is not yet experiencing symptoms, the regime can be referred to as
a prophylactically effective regime. In some instances, therapeutic
or prophylactic efficacy can be observed in an individual patient
relative to historical controls or past experience in the same
patient. In other instances, therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy
can be demonstrated in a preclinical or clinical trial in a
population of treated patients relative to a control population of
untreated patients.
[0083] Dosages for an ADC typically vary depending on the drug
component of the ADC. Exemplary doses can include for example, from
1.0 .mu.g/kg to 7.5 mg/kg, or 2 mg/kg to 7.5 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg to
7.5 mg/kg of the subject's body weight, or 0.1-20, or 0.5-5 mg/kg
body weight (e.g., 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 mg/kg) or
10-1500 or 200-1500 mg as a fixed dosage. In some methods, the
patient is administered a dose of at least 1.5 mg/kg, at least 2
mg/kg or at least 3 mg/kg, administered once every three weeks or
greater. The dosage depends on the frequency of administration,
condition of the patient and response to prior treatment, if any,
whether the treatment is prophylactic or therapeutic and whether
the disorder is acute or chronic, among other factors.
[0084] Administration can be parenteral, intravenous, oral,
subcutaneous, intra-arterial, intracranial, intrathecal,
intraperitoneal, topical, intranasal or intramuscular.
Administration can also be localized directly, such as into a
tumor. Administration into the systemic circulation by intravenous
or subcutaneous administration is preferred. Intravenous
administration can be, for example, by infusion over a period such
as 30-90 min or by a single bolus injection.
[0085] The frequency of administration depends on the half-life of
the ADC in the circulation, the condition of the patient and the
route of administration among other factors. The frequency can be
daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or at irregular intervals in
response to changes in the patient's condition or progression of
the cancer being treated. An exemplary frequency for intravenous
administration is between twice a week and quarterly over a
continuous course of treatment, although more or less frequent
dosing is also possible. Other exemplary frequencies for
intravenous administration are between weekly or three out of every
four weeks over a continuous course of treatment, although more or
less frequent dosing is also possible. For subcutaneous
administration, an exemplary dosing frequency is daily to monthly,
although more or less frequent dosing is also possible.
[0086] The number of dosages administered depends on the nature of
the disease (e.g., whether presenting acute or chronic symptoms)
and the response of the disorder to the treatment. For acute
disorders or acute exacerbations of a chronic disorder between 1
and 10 doses are often sufficient. Sometimes a single bolus dose,
optionally in divided form, is sufficient for an acute disorder or
acute exacerbation of a chronic disorder. Treatment can be repeated
for recurrence of an acute disorder or acute exacerbation. For
chronic disorders, an antibody can be administered at regular
intervals, e.g., weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, every six
months for at least 1, 5 or 10 years, or the life of the
patient.
[0087] Pharmaceutical compositions for parenteral administration
are preferably sterile and substantially isotonic (240-360 mOsm/kg)
and manufactured under GMP conditions. Pharmaceutical compositions
can be provided in unit dosage form (i.e., the dosage for a single
administration). Pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated
using one or more physiologically acceptable carriers, diluents,
excipients or auxiliaries. The formulation depends on the route of
administration chosen. For injection, ADC's can be formulated in
aqueous solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers
such as Hank's solution, Ringer's solution, or physiological saline
or acetate buffer (to reduce discomfort at the site of injection).
The solution can contain formulatory agents such as suspending,
stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively antibodies can
be in lyophilized form for constitution with a suitable vehicle,
e.g., sterile pyrogen-free water, before use. The concentration of
antibody in a liquid formulation can be e.g., 1-100 mg/ml, such as
10 mg/ml.
[0088] Treatment with ADC's of the invention can be combined with
chemotherapy, radiation, stem cell treatment, surgery, anti-virals,
antibiotics, immune suppressants or stimulants, or other treatments
effective against the disorder being treated. Useful classes of
other agents that can be administered with ADC's for treatment of
cancers or autoimmune disease include, for example, antibodies to
other receptors expressed on cancerous cells, antitubulin agents
(e.g., auristatins), DNA minor groove binders, DNA replication
inhibitors, alkylating agents (e.g., platinum complexes such as
cis-platin, mono(platinum), bis(platinum) and tri-nuclear platinum
complexes and carboplatin), anthracyclines, antibiotics,
antifolates, antimetabolites, chemotherapy sensitizers,
duocarmycins, etoposides, fluorinated pyrimidines, ionophores,
lexitropsins, nitrosoureas, platinols, pre-forming compounds,
purine antimetabolites, puromycins, radiation sensitizers,
steroids, taxanes, topoisomerase inhibitors, vinca alkaloids, and
the like.
[0089] In some aspects, treatment with the ADC's can increase the
median progression-free survival or overall survival time of
patients with tumors, especially when relapsed or refractory, by at
least 30% or 40% but preferably 50%, 60% to 70% or even 100% or
longer, compared to the same treatment (e.g., chemotherapy) but
without an ADC. In some aspects, treatment (e.g., standard
chemotherapy) can increase the complete response rate, partial
response rate, or objective response rate (complete+partial) of
patients with tumors by at least 30% or 40% but preferably 50%, 60%
to 70% or even 100% compared to the same treatment (e.g.,
chemotherapy) but without the ADC.
[0090] Typically, in a clinical trial (e.g., a phase II, phase
II/III or phase III trial), the aforementioned increases in median
progression-free survival and/or response rate of the patients
treated with standard therapy plus the ADC, relative to the control
group of patients receiving standard therapy alone (or plus
placebo), are statistically significant, for example at the p=0.05
or 0.01 or even 0.001 level. The complete and partial response
rates are determined by objective criteria commonly used in
clinical trials for cancer, e.g., as listed or accepted by the
National Cancer Institute and/or Food and Drug Administration.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Evidence that QSOX1 is Present in Antibody Preparations
Purified from CHO Cell Cultures
[0091] Lot DEVNKB-1, which resulted from purification of an
antibody expressed in CHO cells, unexpectedly exhibited poor drug
conjugation. In contrast, lot L22042/E exhibited the desirable
level of drug conjugation. Because drug conjugation to the antibody
is mediated by free sulfhydryl groups, the presence of an impurity
having oxidizing activity was suspected in lot DEVNKB-1. FIG. 1
shows the impact of the oxidizing impurity on the efficacy of drug
conjugation to the antibody. The antibody from lot DEVNKB-1
(diamond symbols) shows reduced drug load as the time of reduction
increases over 50 minutes, whereas the antibody from lot L22042/E
(square symbols) shows a consistent and expected level of drug
loading over the course of reduction.
[0092] Because certain preparations of other antibodies produced in
CHO cells have been observed to have an oxidizing activity similar
to that of lot DEVNKB-1, the source of the oxidizing activity was a
matter of interest. To determine the source of the oxidizing
activity, lot DEVNKB-1 was analyzed for the presence of a
sulfhydryl oxidase by gel electrophoresis and Western blotting, and
liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
Gel Electrophoresis and Western Blotting
[0093] Comparison of lots DEVNKB-1 and L22042/E following
separation by SDS-PAGE and silver staining did not reveal any
protein bands obviously corresponding to the oxidizing activity
(data not shown). To achieve better resolution, lot DEVNKB-1 was
fractionated by size exclusion chromatography. Fractions were
assayed for oxidizing activity as described in example 2. See FIG.
2a. Fractions corresponding to the peak activity were separated by
SDS-PAGE, blotted, then stained with antibodies to candidate
sulfhydryl oxidase proteins, including QSOX1, QSOX2, and ALR
(Augmenter of Liver Regeneration). FIGS. 2b and 2c show the results
of the Western blot analysis using anti-ALR and anti-QSOX1 primary
antibodies, respectively, followed by a rabbit anti-goat IgG
secondary antibody. The blots revealed extensive cross-reactivity
between the secondary antibody and many product-related species.
Nevertheless, a band in peak activity fractions 27-29 corresponding
to a molecular weight between 65 kD and 70 kD was detected in the
anti-QSOX1 blot (FIG. 2c), which is consistent with the predicted
weight of hamster QSOX1 (70,356 Daltons).
LC-MS/MS Analysis
[0094] To identify the 65-70 kD protein detected in the anti-QSOX1
Western blot, lot DEVNKB-1 was fractionated by affinity
chromatography on a Poros Protein A column. See FIG. 3a. Fractions
were assayed for oxidizing activity as described in example 2. See
FIG. 3b. Essentially all of the oxidizing activity came out in
fractions 3 and 4. Fractions 3 and 4 from a series of three runs
were pooled and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. See FIG. 3c. The most
prominent band was in the 65-70 kD range and formed a diffuse
single band or doublet, consistent with the Western blot. Using gel
digestion and LC-MS/MS, the band was positively identified as
QSOX1.
Oxidizer Characterization
[0095] Further to characterize the oxidizing activity in lot
DEVNKB-1, the lot was tested for sulfhydryl oxidizing activity
using the ferrous oxidation xylenol orange (FOX) assay. Sulfhydryl
oxidases catalyze the following reaction:
2R--SH+O.sub.2.fwdarw.R--S--S--R+H.sub.2O.sub.2
As the reaction proceeds, oxygen is consumed and hydrogen peroxide
is produced. The hydrogen peroxide by-product can be detected
readily and reliably, and thus serves as a proxy for sulfhydryl
oxidase activity. In the FOX assay, hydrogen peroxide oxidizes
ferrous iron (Fe.sup.2+) to produce ferric iron (Fe.sup.3+). The
ferrous iron then complexes with xylenol orange to form a compound
that absorbs 560 nm light. Thus, by monitoring absorption of 560 nm
light (e.g., using a spectrophotometer), the amount of sulfhydryl
oxidizing activity in a sample can be determined. The value of a
negative control is compared to the value of the test sample by
determining the difference in the 560 nm reading. If the resulting
value is greater than 0.1 absorbance units, then the samples is
positive for oxidizing impurity. As shown in Table 1, the presence
of DEVNKB-1 resulted in a 560 nm absorption of 0.70-0.80. Addition
of both DEVNKB-1 and 1 mM Zn.sup.2+, however, was only 0.008. The
data show that 1 mM Zn.sup.2+ can essentially eliminate the
oxidizing activity in lot DEVNKB-1. This is consistent with the
oxidizing agent having a flavin-dependent sulfhydryl oxidase
domain, such as QSOX1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 DEVNKB-1 Additive + - Difference % Activity
-- 0.81047 1.53920 0.72873 100% -- 0.80907 1.58360 0.77453 1 mM
Zn2+ 1.48020 1.48810 0.00790 1%
[0096] Further assays were performed to see whether EDTA could
reverse the Zn.sup.2+-dependent elimination of oxidizing activity
in lot DEVNKB-1. In these experiments, Zn.sup.2+ was added to the
assay buffer, either with or without EDTA. In addition, assay
buffer having EDTA was evaluated. As shown in Table 2, the
oxidizing activity associated with lot DEVNKB-1 was reduced 95% by
the presence of Zn.sup.2+ relative to assay buffer that contained
additional EDTA. Addition of both Zn.sup.2+ and additional EDTA,
however, reduced the oxidizing activity by only 6%. Thus, the EDTA
effectively reversed the Zn.sup.2+-dependent inhibition of
oxidizing activity. Again, this is what is expected for an
oxidizing agent that has a flavin-dependent sulfhydryl oxidase
domain, such as QSOX1.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 DEVNKB-1 Additive + - Difference % Activity
1 mM Zn.sup.2+ 1.50550 1.53647 0.03097 5% 1 mM Zn.sup.2+ + 0.99833
1.53647 0.53814 94% EDTA EDTA 0.96444 1.53647 0.57203 100%
[0097] Based on the Western blot data, the LC-MS/MS data (not
shown), and the characterization of the oxidizing activity, the
oxidizing activity in lot DEVNKB-1 was determined to be the QSOX1
sulfhydryl oxidase.
Example 2: Assays to Detect QSOX1 in CHO Cell Cultures
[0098] To provide for detection of oxidizing activity in antibody
preparations (e.g., when the antibody is intended for conjugation
to a drug), an assay was developed that uses partially reduced
SGN-30 (cAC10 antibody, which is the antibody component of
brentuximab vedotin as a substrate. SGN-30 was selected as the
substrate because cAC10 antibody has been consistently purified
without QSOX1 contamination. Other well-characterized substrates
having free thiols can be used in place of SGN-30.
[0099] The assay involves incubating substrate (e.g., SGN-30) with
a test sample for a fixed amount of time, then detecting the amount
of free sulfhydryl groups in the substrate using DTNB
(5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), also known as Ellmans'
reagent).
##STR00002##
Free thiol groups in the substrate react with DTNB, cleaving the
disulfide bond and producing 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoate (NTB.sup.-),
which ionizes to NTB.sup.2- in water at neutral and alkaline pH.
NTB.sup.2- has a yellow color and can be rapidly quantified using a
spectrophotometer and measuring the absorbance of visible light at
412 nm. If oxidizing impurities are present in the test sample,
free sulfhydryl groups on the substrate (e.g., in cysteine residues
not already involved in a disulfide bond) are oxidized into
disulfide bonds, resulting in fewer free thiols. Thus, there is
less reaction between substrate and DTNB, resulting in a lower
production of yellow color and a correspondingly lower absorption
of 412 nm light by the sample.
[0100] The reaction between DTNB and free thiol groups is rapid and
stoichiometric. Accordingly, if desired, the amount of free
sulfhydryl groups in the substrate can be quantified using a molar
extinction coefficient of 14,150M-1 cm-1 (suitable for dilute
buffer solutions).
[0101] Materials used in the assay include Spectrophotometer (e.g.,
Agilent model 8453); Quartz cuvette (e.g., Starna, 16.50-Q-10/Z15);
1 M Tris HCl, pH 7.4; 0.5M EDTA, pH 8.0; Potassium phosphate
monobasic; Potassium phosphate dibasic; Polysorbate 80; DTNB (e.g.,
Sigma D218200).
[0102] The assay involves spectrophotometric analysis of at least a
negative control sample, a positive control, a test sample, and a
spectrophotometer blank. Additional control and/or test samples can
be analyzed as needed. The composition of the control and test
samples are as shown in Table 3. The buffer used in the assay is 10
mM Potassium phosphate, 0.2 mg/mL Polysorbate 80, pH 6.0. However,
other dilute buffers are also suitable depending on the buffer of
the test sample to be analyzed. The final volume of the samples to
be assayed in 150 .mu.L, but that can also be adjusted as needed.
To simplify the assay, a mastermix cocktail containing the buffer,
EDTA, water, and substrate (e.g., partially reduced cAC10) can be
prepared, with the assay being initiated upon addition of 50 .mu.L
of sample to 100 .mu.L of mastermix cocktail.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 1M 0.5M Partially Tris, EDTA Reduced pH 7.4
pH 8.0 Water cAC10 Sample Negative 15.0 .mu.L 3.0 .mu.L 7.0 .mu.L
75.0 .mu.L 50.0 .mu.L Control Buffer Positive 15.0 .mu.L 3.0 .mu.L
7.0 .mu.L 75.0 .mu.L 50.0 .mu.L Control REFNKB-1 Test 15.0 .mu.L
3.0 .mu.L 7.0 .mu.L 75.0 .mu.L 50.0 .mu.L Sample Test Sample
Spectro. 75.0 .mu.L 15.0 .mu.L 35.0 .mu.L 625.0 .mu.L Buffer
Blank
[0103] Sample preparation and analysis is performed as follows.
Microfuge tubes are labeled corresponding to the samples and
controls to be analyzed. 100 .mu.L of mastermix cocktail is placed
in each tube. 50 .mu.L of each sample is added to the corresponding
control/test sample tube. The tubes are mixed by vortexing. The
tubes are placed in a 37.degree. C. waterbath or incubator and
incubated for 2 hrs. A second microfuge tube for each sample is
labeled and 100 .mu.L of 1 mM DTNB is placed in each tube. At the
conclusion of the 2 hr. incubation, the samples are removed from
the waterbath/incubator and 100 .mu.L of sample is transferred to
the corresponding microfuge tube containing 100 .mu.L of DTNB. The
tubes are mixed by vortexing. The samples are incubated at room
temperature for at least 5 minutes, then absorbance is determined.
Absorbance is measured at 412 nm and corrected for absorbance at
700 nm (i.e., determine A.sub.412-A.sub.700). Spectra can be
collected from 200 to 700 nm.
[0104] To assess the presence of an oxidizing impurity in a test
sample, the value (412 nm-700 nm) of the negative control (Buffer)
is compared to the value of the test sample by determining the
difference in the 412 nm reading. If the resulting value is greater
than 0.1 absorbance units, then the sample is positive for
oxidizing impurity.
[0105] When testing culture medium from an antibody culture, the
assay typically produces high values (.about.0.5AU), suggesting
high levels of oxidizer. However, the assay readout is color based
and the color in the cell culture media tends to interfere with the
assay readout. Consequently, it is difficult to definitively
measure oxidizing impurity in clarified harvest using this assay.
Oxidizing impurity is preferably measured following at least one
purification step, e.g., after at least one chromatography step
(e.g., after protein A, ion exchange, or HIC chromatography).
[0106] This assay measures sulfhydryl oxidase activity generally,
including activity arising from QSOX1, QSOX2, ALR, and other
enzymes. More specific assays for specific sulfhydryl oxidases can
also be used, e.g., as described in Example 1.
Example 3: Methods to Remove QSOX1
[0107] Reduction of Oxidizing Impurity by Implementation of a Salt
Wash on Protein A
[0108] A preparation of a second antibody referred to herein as
Antibody 2 was found to have unacceptably high levels of oxidizing
activity (following clarification via centrifugation and
filtration). To remove the oxidizing impurity, protein A
chromatography with salt washes of varying strength was
assessed.
[0109] A 3.2 cm diameter by 23.2 cm bed height (193.2 mL bed
volume) MabSelect Sure Protein A column was equilibrated with 25 mM
Tris, 50 mM NaCl, pH 7.5, and then loaded to 25 g of mAb/L of
packed bed. After loading, the column was washed with 50 mM Tris
buffered solutions containing various levels of NaCl, as shown in
Table 4. Antibody elution was performed using 25 mM acetate pH 3.4.
Flow rate was held constant at 4 minute residence time.
[0110] The level of oxidizing impurity in column eluates was
analyzed using the assay of Example 2. The data (see Table 4) show
that the oxidizing impurity was not contained in the Protein A
eluate when washed with a moderate (150 mM NaCl) or high (500 mM
NaCl) concentration of salt. A wash containing a low concentration
of salt (50 mM NaCl) was ineffective at reducing the level of
oxidizing impurity below the 0.1 absorbance threshold. The wash
from the high concentration salt contained a high level of
oxidizing impurity, demonstrating that the high concentration salt
wash desorbed the impurity from the column resin or mAb.
[0111] The results generally indicate that the affinity of the
oxidizing impurity for the protein A ligand, resin backbone, and/or
mAb is disturbed by high ionic strength solutions, consistent with
an ionic interaction.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Presence of Difference oxidizing Sample ID
A412 impurity Eluate 0.407 positive (Low, 50 mM, Salt wash) Eluate
0.095 negative Moderate, 150 mM, Salt wash Eluate 0.053 negative
High, 500 mM, Salt Wash High NaCl wash fraction 0.910 positive
DEVNKB_1 (Pos Control) 0.573 positive Buffer_1 (Neg control) -0.020
negative
Depth Filtration
[0112] Depth filtration was also tested for its ability to remove
oxidizing impurity. The depth filter, a Millipore X0HC filter, was
wetted with 50-100 L/m.sup.2 of water and equilibrated with at
least 15 L/m.sup.2 of equilibration buffer (e.g., pH of 7.5-8 and
the NaCl concentration from 50-100 mM). Filtration was performed at
230 L/m.sup.2/hr. (LMH) at targeted load factor of 20-60 L/m.sup.2.
To recover product the filter was flushed with equilibration buffer
of sufficient volume to ensure that target peak collection was
reached. The filtrate was collected by absorbance at 280 nm. Using
such conditions, the oxidizing impurity was removed.
Anion Exchange--Capto Q
[0113] It was observed that a Capto Q strong anion exchange column
(GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Catalog #17-5316) resulted in removal
of oxidizing impurity when operated at flow-through mode with a
buffer at a pH of 8.0 and a conductivity <8 mS/cm (e.g., 5-7
mS/cm). These conditions provide a starting point for assessing
removal of oxidizing impurity using a Capto Q column. It was
demonstrated for the antibody 1 that a buffer having low
conductivity and high pH is required for effective clearance of
oxidizing impurity. The Capto Q column was operated in flow-through
mode. At appropriate conditions, the mAb was unretained by the
resin, whereas the oxidizing impurity was adsorbed by the resin.
The oxidizing impurity was later stripped from the resin using a
high salt buffer. For a second antibody, antibody 2, as shown in
Table 5, effective clearance was demonstrated at a pH of 7.5 (7.5-8
is effective), provided that the conductivity of the buffer was 11
mS/cm (conductivity of less or equal to 11 is required). Buffers
having a pH of 7 and conductivity ranging from 11 to 15 mS/cm were
ineffective at separating the impurity from the mAb in a
flow-through mode, as was a buffer having a pH of 7.5 and
conductivity of 15 mS/cm.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Presence of Difference, Oxidizing Sample ID
A412 nm Impurity pH 7/cond 11 0.200 positive pH 7/cond 15 0.227
positive pH 7.5/cond 11 -0.006 negative pH 7.5/cond 15 0.190
positive Capto Q load 0.415 positive Buffer control -0.020
negative
Phenyl Membrane
[0114] Sartobind Phenyl.RTM., when operated in flow-through mode,
has also been found to effectively clear oxidizing impurity from
antibody preparations produced in CHO cells. Under appropriate
conditions, the oxidizing impurity is retained by the membrane
while the mAb is not. The oxidizing impurity can be later stripped
from the resin using a low salt buffer. The load is prepared by
diluting the antibody to a target citrate molarity (typically
0.3-0.4 M sodium citrate) and pH (typically 6-8). The membrane is
equilibrated in 5 membrane volumes (MV) of equilibration buffer
selected to match the diluted antibody load. The diluted load is
then applied to the membrane, and the membrane is washed with 10 MV
of equilibration buffer. The antibody preparation, free of
oxidizing impurity, comes out in the flow through. Bound material
is eluted with, e.g., 50 mM Tris, pH 8, and the membrane is
regenerated with, e.g., 5 MV of 25 mM sodium phosphate, 20% IPA at
pH 6.5. The process is operated at 10 mL/min or 3.3 MV/min. The
entire peak of the flow-though is collected, e.g., from 0.1-0.1 AU
at 280 nm using a 2 mm flow path.
[0115] Table 6 provides data from a purification step on phenyl
membrane. The level of oxidizing impurity measured in the phenyl
flow-through ranged from 0.1 to 0.04 absorbance units.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Oxidizer Sample .DELTA. A412 Impurity Phenyl
Membrane Load 0.41 Positive Phenyl Membrane FT -0.06 Negative
[0116] To determine the operational robustness for using a phenyl
membrane, the oxidizing impurity present in Antibody 2,
preparations was evaluated after applying the phenyl membrane
purification step at different conditions of pH and citrate
molarity. See Table 7. To reduce the level of oxidizing impurity in
the flow-through, the molarity of citrate is preferably operated at
the upper limit, 0.4M.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Oxidizing Presence of Citrate Impurity
Oxidizing pH Molarity (.DELTA. 412 nm) Impurity 6 0.35 0.05
Negative 8 0.40 0.00 Negative 6 0.40 -0.04 Negative 7 0.40 -0.03
Negative 7 0.30 0.10 Positive 8 0.35 0.02 Negative 8 0.30 0.09
Negative 6 0.30 0.12 Positive 7 0.35 0.04 Negative 7 0.35 0.03
Negative
[0117] All patent filings, websites, other publications, accession
numbers and the like cited above or below are incorporated by
reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as
if each individual item were specifically and individually
indicated to be so incorporated by reference. If different versions
of a sequence are associated with an accession number at different
times, the version associated with the accession number at the
effective filing date of this application is meant. The effective
filing date means the earlier of the actual filing date or filing
date of a priority application referring to the accession number if
applicable. Likewise if different versions of a publication,
website or the like are published at different times, the version
most recently published at the effective filing date of the
application is meant unless otherwise indicated. Any feature, step,
element, embodiment, or aspect of the invention can be used in
combination with any other unless specifically indicated otherwise.
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by
way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and
understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and
modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended
claims.
TABLE-US-00008 Sequence listing: SEQ ID NO: 1:
MATGLRRREYIWLLWALTITVSYLVALFSHLLRILTVKKLQWRPVLNLAV
LDCAEETNTAVCRDFNISGFPTVRFFKAFSKNGSGITLPVADASVETLRR
KLIDALESHSDMWSSSRPKLKPAKLVEINEFFAETNEDYLVLIFEDKDSY
VGREVTLDLFQHHIPVHRVLNTERNAVSKFGVVEFPSCYLLFRNGSFSRV
PVVMESRLFYTSYLKGMSGPILVDPPTTTISTDAPVTTDVVPTVWKVANH
ARIYMADLESSLHYIFLVEVGKFSVLEGQRLLALKKLVAVLAKYFPGRPL
AQNFLHSIHDWLQRQQRKKIPYKFFRAALDNRKEGIVLTEKVNWVGCQGS
KPHFRGFPCSLWILFHFLTVQASRYSENHPQEPADGQEVLQAMRSYVQWF
FGCRDCAEHFENMAASTMHRVRSPTSAVLWLWTSHNKVNARLSGAPSEDP
YFPKVQWPLRELCFDCHNEINGREPVWDLEATYRFLKAHFSSENIILDTP
VAGLATQRNPQILGATPEPVMDALELETRNSVLGHERAASTESPGATALN
VPVGKPEASGPQALYTGQGPPEHMEEPQRVTQGHTQGQQHLSKRDTEVLT
LPEVNHLQGPLELRRGGRSPKQLVNIPEGEPEAPAIRGQGPWLQVLGRGF
SHLDISLCVGLYSVSFVCLLAMYTYFRARLRTPKGHLVTQ SEQ ID NO: 2: MRRCGRHSGS
PSQMLLLLLP PLLLAVPGAG AVQVSVLYSS SDPVTVLNAN TVRSTVLRSN GAWAVEFFAS
WCGHCIAFAP TWKELAYDVR EWRPVLNLAV LDCAEETNTA VCRDFNISGF PTVRFFKAFS
KNGSGITLPV ADASVETLRR KLIDALESHS DMWSSSRPKL KPAKLVEINE FFAETNEDYL
VLIFEDKDSY VGREVTLDLF QHHIPVHRVL NTERNAVSKF GVVEFPSCYL LFRNGSFSRV
PVVMESRLFY TSYLKGMSGP ILVDPPTTTI STDAPVTTDV VPTVWKVANH ARIYMADLES
SLHYIFLVEV GKFSVLEGQR LLALKKLVAV LAKYFPGRPL AQNFLHSIHD WLQRQQRKKI
PYKFFRAALD NRKEGIVLTE KVNWVGCQGS KPHFRGFPCS LWILFHFLTV QASRYSENHP
QEPADGQEVL QAMRSYVQWF FGCRDCAEHF ENMAASTMHR VRSPTSAVLW LWTSHNKVNA
RLSGAPSEDP YFPKVQWPLR ELCFDCHNEI NGREPVWDLE ATYRFLKAHF SSENIILDTP
VAGLATQRNP QILGATPEPH M SEQ ID NO: 3: GFLG
Sequence CWU 1
1
31690PRTCricetulus griseus 1Met Ala Thr Gly Leu Arg Arg Arg Glu Tyr
Ile Trp Leu Leu Trp Ala1 5 10 15Leu Thr Ile Thr Val Ser Tyr Leu Val
Ala Leu Phe Ser His Leu Leu 20 25 30Arg Ile Leu Thr Val Lys Lys Leu
Gln Trp Arg Pro Val Leu Asn Leu 35 40 45Ala Val Leu Asp Cys Ala Glu
Glu Thr Asn Thr Ala Val Cys Arg Asp 50 55 60Phe Asn Ile Ser Gly Phe
Pro Thr Val Arg Phe Phe Lys Ala Phe Ser65 70 75 80Lys Asn Gly Ser
Gly Ile Thr Leu Pro Val Ala Asp Ala Ser Val Glu 85 90 95Thr Leu Arg
Arg Lys Leu Ile Asp Ala Leu Glu Ser His Ser Asp Met 100 105 110Trp
Ser Ser Ser Arg Pro Lys Leu Lys Pro Ala Lys Leu Val Glu Ile 115 120
125Asn Glu Phe Phe Ala Glu Thr Asn Glu Asp Tyr Leu Val Leu Ile Phe
130 135 140Glu Asp Lys Asp Ser Tyr Val Gly Arg Glu Val Thr Leu Asp
Leu Phe145 150 155 160Gln His His Ile Pro Val His Arg Val Leu Asn
Thr Glu Arg Asn Ala 165 170 175Val Ser Lys Phe Gly Val Val Glu Phe
Pro Ser Cys Tyr Leu Leu Phe 180 185 190Arg Asn Gly Ser Phe Ser Arg
Val Pro Val Val Met Glu Ser Arg Leu 195 200 205Phe Tyr Thr Ser Tyr
Leu Lys Gly Met Ser Gly Pro Ile Leu Val Asp 210 215 220Pro Pro Thr
Thr Thr Ile Ser Thr Asp Ala Pro Val Thr Thr Asp Val225 230 235
240Val Pro Thr Val Trp Lys Val Ala Asn His Ala Arg Ile Tyr Met Ala
245 250 255Asp Leu Glu Ser Ser Leu His Tyr Ile Phe Leu Val Glu Val
Gly Lys 260 265 270Phe Ser Val Leu Glu Gly Gln Arg Leu Leu Ala Leu
Lys Lys Leu Val 275 280 285Ala Val Leu Ala Lys Tyr Phe Pro Gly Arg
Pro Leu Ala Gln Asn Phe 290 295 300Leu His Ser Ile His Asp Trp Leu
Gln Arg Gln Gln Arg Lys Lys Ile305 310 315 320Pro Tyr Lys Phe Phe
Arg Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Arg Lys Glu Gly Ile 325 330 335Val Leu Thr
Glu Lys Val Asn Trp Val Gly Cys Gln Gly Ser Lys Pro 340 345 350His
Phe Arg Gly Phe Pro Cys Ser Leu Trp Ile Leu Phe His Phe Leu 355 360
365Thr Val Gln Ala Ser Arg Tyr Ser Glu Asn His Pro Gln Glu Pro Ala
370 375 380Asp Gly Gln Glu Val Leu Gln Ala Met Arg Ser Tyr Val Gln
Trp Phe385 390 395 400Phe Gly Cys Arg Asp Cys Ala Glu His Phe Glu
Asn Met Ala Ala Ser 405 410 415Thr Met His Arg Val Arg Ser Pro Thr
Ser Ala Val Leu Trp Leu Trp 420 425 430Thr Ser His Asn Lys Val Asn
Ala Arg Leu Ser Gly Ala Pro Ser Glu 435 440 445Asp Pro Tyr Phe Pro
Lys Val Gln Trp Pro Leu Arg Glu Leu Cys Phe 450 455 460Asp Cys His
Asn Glu Ile Asn Gly Arg Glu Pro Val Trp Asp Leu Glu465 470 475
480Ala Thr Tyr Arg Phe Leu Lys Ala His Phe Ser Ser Glu Asn Ile Ile
485 490 495Leu Asp Thr Pro Val Ala Gly Leu Ala Thr Gln Arg Asn Pro
Gln Ile 500 505 510Leu Gly Ala Thr Pro Glu Pro Val Met Asp Ala Leu
Glu Leu Glu Thr 515 520 525Arg Asn Ser Val Leu Gly His Glu Arg Ala
Ala Ser Thr Glu Ser Pro 530 535 540Gly Ala Thr Ala Leu Asn Val Pro
Val Gly Lys Pro Glu Ala Ser Gly545 550 555 560Pro Gln Ala Leu Tyr
Thr Gly Gln Gly Pro Pro Glu His Met Glu Glu 565 570 575Pro Gln Arg
Val Thr Gln Gly His Thr Gln Gly Gln Gln His Leu Ser 580 585 590Lys
Arg Asp Thr Glu Val Leu Thr Leu Pro Glu Val Asn His Leu Gln 595 600
605Gly Pro Leu Glu Leu Arg Arg Gly Gly Arg Ser Pro Lys Gln Leu Val
610 615 620Asn Ile Pro Glu Gly Glu Pro Glu Ala Pro Ala Ile Arg Gly
Gln Gly625 630 635 640Pro Trp Leu Gln Val Leu Gly Arg Gly Phe Ser
His Leu Asp Ile Ser 645 650 655Leu Cys Val Gly Leu Tyr Ser Val Ser
Phe Val Cys Leu Leu Ala Met 660 665 670Tyr Thr Tyr Phe Arg Ala Arg
Leu Arg Thr Pro Lys Gly His Leu Val 675 680 685Thr Gln
6902571PRTCricetulus griseus 2Met Arg Arg Cys Gly Arg His Ser Gly
Ser Pro Ser Gln Met Leu Leu1 5 10 15Leu Leu Leu Pro Pro Leu Leu Leu
Ala Val Pro Gly Ala Gly Ala Val 20 25 30Gln Val Ser Val Leu Tyr Ser
Ser Ser Asp Pro Val Thr Val Leu Asn 35 40 45Ala Asn Thr Val Arg Ser
Thr Val Leu Arg Ser Asn Gly Ala Trp Ala 50 55 60Val Glu Phe Phe Ala
Ser Trp Cys Gly His Cys Ile Ala Phe Ala Pro65 70 75 80Thr Trp Lys
Glu Leu Ala Tyr Asp Val Arg Glu Trp Arg Pro Val Leu 85 90 95Asn Leu
Ala Val Leu Asp Cys Ala Glu Glu Thr Asn Thr Ala Val Cys 100 105
110Arg Asp Phe Asn Ile Ser Gly Phe Pro Thr Val Arg Phe Phe Lys Ala
115 120 125Phe Ser Lys Asn Gly Ser Gly Ile Thr Leu Pro Val Ala Asp
Ala Ser 130 135 140Val Glu Thr Leu Arg Arg Lys Leu Ile Asp Ala Leu
Glu Ser His Ser145 150 155 160Asp Met Trp Ser Ser Ser Arg Pro Lys
Leu Lys Pro Ala Lys Leu Val 165 170 175Glu Ile Asn Glu Phe Phe Ala
Glu Thr Asn Glu Asp Tyr Leu Val Leu 180 185 190Ile Phe Glu Asp Lys
Asp Ser Tyr Val Gly Arg Glu Val Thr Leu Asp 195 200 205Leu Phe Gln
His His Ile Pro Val His Arg Val Leu Asn Thr Glu Arg 210 215 220Asn
Ala Val Ser Lys Phe Gly Val Val Glu Phe Pro Ser Cys Tyr Leu225 230
235 240Leu Phe Arg Asn Gly Ser Phe Ser Arg Val Pro Val Val Met Glu
Ser 245 250 255Arg Leu Phe Tyr Thr Ser Tyr Leu Lys Gly Met Ser Gly
Pro Ile Leu 260 265 270Val Asp Pro Pro Thr Thr Thr Ile Ser Thr Asp
Ala Pro Val Thr Thr 275 280 285Asp Val Val Pro Thr Val Trp Lys Val
Ala Asn His Ala Arg Ile Tyr 290 295 300Met Ala Asp Leu Glu Ser Ser
Leu His Tyr Ile Phe Leu Val Glu Val305 310 315 320Gly Lys Phe Ser
Val Leu Glu Gly Gln Arg Leu Leu Ala Leu Lys Lys 325 330 335Leu Val
Ala Val Leu Ala Lys Tyr Phe Pro Gly Arg Pro Leu Ala Gln 340 345
350Asn Phe Leu His Ser Ile His Asp Trp Leu Gln Arg Gln Gln Arg Lys
355 360 365Lys Ile Pro Tyr Lys Phe Phe Arg Ala Ala Leu Asp Asn Arg
Lys Glu 370 375 380Gly Ile Val Leu Thr Glu Lys Val Asn Trp Val Gly
Cys Gln Gly Ser385 390 395 400Lys Pro His Phe Arg Gly Phe Pro Cys
Ser Leu Trp Ile Leu Phe His 405 410 415Phe Leu Thr Val Gln Ala Ser
Arg Tyr Ser Glu Asn His Pro Gln Glu 420 425 430Pro Ala Asp Gly Gln
Glu Val Leu Gln Ala Met Arg Ser Tyr Val Gln 435 440 445Trp Phe Phe
Gly Cys Arg Asp Cys Ala Glu His Phe Glu Asn Met Ala 450 455 460Ala
Ser Thr Met His Arg Val Arg Ser Pro Thr Ser Ala Val Leu Trp465 470
475 480Leu Trp Thr Ser His Asn Lys Val Asn Ala Arg Leu Ser Gly Ala
Pro 485 490 495Ser Glu Asp Pro Tyr Phe Pro Lys Val Gln Trp Pro Leu
Arg Glu Leu 500 505 510Cys Phe Asp Cys His Asn Glu Ile Asn Gly Arg
Glu Pro Val Trp Asp 515 520 525Leu Glu Ala Thr Tyr Arg Phe Leu Lys
Ala His Phe Ser Ser Glu Asn 530 535 540Ile Ile Leu Asp Thr Pro Val
Ala Gly Leu Ala Thr Gln Arg Asn Pro545 550 555 560Gln Ile Leu Gly
Ala Thr Pro Glu Pro His Met 565 57034PRTArtificial Sequencedrug
linker Peptide 3Gly Phe Leu Gly1
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