Newly developed biologics, including biosimilars, bispecifics, and antibody drug conjugates, have unique features and require a specific skill set. To continue pushing safe and efficacious products to patients, researchers must adapt. At the Ninth Annual
Strategies for Immunogenicity Assay Assessment, industry experts will deliver case studies and critical insight into development, optimization, and validation of immunogenicity assays. This event will address proactive strategies for managing off-target
toxicity and mitigating risks from concept to product.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
7:00 am Registration and Morning Coffee
8:00 Chairperson’s Remarks
Yao Zhuang, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, PKDM Bioanalytical Sciences, Amgen
8:10 Strategies to Determine Assay Format for the Assessment of Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Biotherapeutics
Bonnie Wu, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Bioanalytical Sciences, Janssen R&D, LLC
A white paper has currently been developed that provides recommendations on how to select a suitable NAb assay format (cell-based or non cell-based) to detect clinically relevant NAbs for biotherapeutics with varying MoAs and diverse complexity. This
talk will provide an overview of the white paper and discuss the practical considerations for NAb assay format selection strategies. The utility of correlating NAb response with pharmacodynamic data will also be presented.
8:40 Cell-Based Assays for the Detection of Neutralizing Antibodies against BiTe Molecules and ADCC-Based Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies
Yao Zhuang, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, PKDM Bioanalytical Sciences, Amgen
Recruiting effector cells for target cell destruction is an important strategy to provide the therapeutic interventions in the oncology or auto-immune diseases. Molecules like Rituxan leverage on the mechanism of ADCC, others like Blincyto® are Bispecific
T cell Engager (BiTE®) molecules. Due to their complex mechanisms, developing assays for detecting neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) poses significant challenges. Successful approaches in developing robust cell-based assays for NAb detection will
be described.
9:10 A Neutralizing Antibody Assay Based on a Reporter of Antibody Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity
Yuling Wu, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Clinical Pharmacology & DMPK, Translational Sciences, MedImmune
Immunogenicity assessment is an essential component of safety evaluation in biopharmaceuticals clinical development. Benralizumab is a humanized afucosylated mAb against IL5Rα with enhanced effector function. It potently induces ADCC (antibody-dependent
cell-mediated cytotoxicity) of eosinophils and basophils. To support benrulizumab clinical development, we developed an ADCC cell-based neutralizing antibody (NAb) assays to detect NAb against benrulizumab in human serum. This study presents the development,
optimization and characterization of an ADCC cell-based NAb assay.
9:40 Optimizing Reporter-Gene Assays for the Quantification of Neutralizing Anti-Drug Antibodies
Michael Tovey, Ph.D., INSERM Director, Research, Laboratory of Biotechnology & Applied Pharmacology, Ecole Normale
Supérieure de Cachan
Regulatory authorities recommend cell-based assays for the detection of neutralizing anti-drug antibodies (NADAs). Fully validated reporter-gene assays for numerous biopharmaceuticals including novel insulins, FGF21 peptides, Herceptin, and Avastatin
based on innovative engineered reporter-gene cell lines will be described that quantify both functional drug levels and NADAs with a high degree of precision within 2 to 4 hours in the same sample without drug interference or serum matrix effects.
10:10 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
10:55 Attend Concurrent Session
11:25 PandA: A Novel Method Effective at Reducing or Eliminating the Drug and Target Interferences in Immunogenicity Assays
Jad Zoghbi, Senior Scientist, Sanofi (Genzyme)
Biological matrix interference in immunoassays remains a major challenge in the field of bioanalysis. Circulating drug may interfere with the detection of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) and drug target, or ADA may interfere in drug quantitation assays. Various
approaches have been used to improve drug tolerance in ADA analysis but limited success was observed. Our novel method uses Precipitation and Acid (PandA) to overcome drug or target interference in immunogenicity assays.
11:55 PANEL DISCUSSION: Immunogenicity Testing Strategy: Assay Format Selection, Validation Challenges and Data Impact
Moderator: Jim McNally, Ph.D., Associate Director, QPD Program Representative and Immunogenicity Expert at EMD Serono, Inc.
Panelists: Dharmesh Desai, Ph.D., Group Leader, Bristol-Meyers Squibb
Yuling Wu, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Clinical Pharmacology & DMPK, Translational Sciences, MedImmune
Jad Zoghbi, Senior Scientist, Sanofi (Genzyme)
- New technologies
- How you deal with poor drug tolerance, lack of sensitivity and matrix interference
- Challenges for validation
- Interpretation of the results and implications for risk assessment
12:25 pm Immuno-Phenotyping of Clinical Samples and Logistics of Clinical Sample Processing – How to Do It Right!
Deborah Phippard, Ph.D., Vice President, Research, Precision for Medicine
Immuno-phenotyping of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is a useful tool for understanding pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships and immune responses in clinical studies. The pros and cons of whole blood real time flow assays
vs. flow assays using cryopreserved PBMCs are multiple, and choosing the right collection and testing methods are key for interpretable clinical data. Understanding before a study starts which cellular markers are affected by shipping, cryopreservation,
or partial fixation is necessary for optimal mechanistic study design. As is deep knowledge of relevant stimulation conditions, activation markers and the technical challenges of performing reliable and consistent polychromatic flow cytometry.
12:55 Luncheon Presentation (Sponsorship Opportunity Available) or Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
1:55 Session Break
2:10 Chairperson’s Remarks
Michael Tovey, Ph.D., INSERM Director, Research, Laboratory of Biotechnology & Applied Pharmacology, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan
2:15 Method to Improve the Recovery of pH Labile Anti-Drug Antibodies during Acid Dissociation and Extraction
Weifeng Xu, Ph.D., Senior Research Investigator, BAS-Biologics, Bristol-Myers Squibb
When large amount of biotherapeutics drug is present in the clinical samples, these drugs has to be dissociated and removed from anti-drug antibodies (ADA) so that ADAs can be detected by either ligand-binding assay or cell-based bioassay. By
screening a panel of more than 20 ADA positive control mAbs, we found that current widely used acid dissociation followed by biotinylated-drug extraction led to low recovery of more than 40% of these ADA PCs, due to sensitivity to low pH and
denaturation. Here we discuss the alternative methods for ADA extraction so that both pH labile and pH resistant species can be maximally recovered.
2:45 Case Studies and Methods for Limiting Target Interference in Anti-Drug Antibody Assays
Jim McNally, Ph.D., Associate Director, QPD Program Representative and Immunogenicity Expert, EMD Serono, Inc.
The presence of soluble target in study samples can present significant issues for anti-drug antibody (ADA) assays. In particular, multimers of the target create multiple binding sites for the biotherapeutic and may result in false positives in
ADA assays using the bridging format. This presentation will focus on identifying these false positives and methods to either block or remove circulating target from samples to minimize false positives that occur due to this problem.
3:15 Comparison of Anti-Drug Immunoassay Platforms and the Challenges of Drug Target Interference from a Clinical Perspective
Joseph Balsanek, Development Technologist, Mayo Clinic
3:45 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
4:45 Problem-Solving Breakout Discussions
Approaches to Improve Drug and Drug Target Tolerance for Immunogenicity Assays
Moderator: Bonnie Wu, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Bioanalytical Sciences, Janssen R&D, LLC
- Impact and optimization of acid treatment
- Pros and cons of different approaches to overcome drug and drug target tolerance of binding ADA and NAb assays
- Any practical considerations for improvement of drug tolerance for the cell-based NAb assays?
- Are there any novel approaches on the horizon to mitigate drug and drag target interference for immunogenicity assays?
5:45 Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
7:00 End of Day
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
8:00 am Morning Coffee
8:30 Chairperson’s Remarks
Wenfeng Xu, Ph.D., Associate Director, BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech
8:35 Immunogenicity Assessment of Bi-Specific Antibodies
Laura I. Salazar-Fontana, Ph.D., Strategic Advisor for Immunology and Biomarkers,
Sanofi R&D
Bi-specific antibodies represent a new class of biologics aimed to treat conditions such as cancer and autoimmunity. As for any other therapeutic protein, these molecules can elicit an immune response once administered into patients. An
adequate immunogenicity risk assessment is extremely useful in guiding assay development and testing strategies since it is tailored to the associated risks identified for the bi-specific antibody therapy. The goal of this talk is
to illustrate how this approach helps predict, collect, report and mitigate anti-drug antibody (ADA) data during the clinical development of this class of biologics.
9:05 Bioanalytical Strategy for a Bispecific Antibody in Cancer Immunotherapy
Wenfeng Xu, Ph.D., Associate Director, BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech
Designing appropriate bioanalytical strategies and approaches for new multi-domain protein therapeutic molecules requires specific considerations. This includes not only the selection of suitable nonclinical and clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) formats, but also the corresponding immunogenicity risk assessments and anti-therapeutic (ATA) assay formats for characterization. This presentation will provide the bioanalytical strategy for a new bispecific cancer immunotherapy molecule. The difference between this and a bioanalytical strategy for a typical IgG is summarized.
9:35 Predicting,
Avoiding and Reducing the Risk of Failure when Developing Biotherapeutics
Yvette Stallwood, Ph.D., Head, Applied Protein Services, Lonza Biologics
This presentation will discuss in silico and in vitro methodologies used for developability and immunogenicity risk assessment to highlight potential failure risks for biotherapeutic development. In silico methods can be used to evaluate
protein sequence and structure to assess the likelihood of immunogenic responses and potential manufacturability issues including aggregation and PTMs. Ex vivo T and B-Cell responses enable assessment of overall immunogenicity
risks; different approaches are highlighted to further identify processed and presented epitopes.
10:05 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
11:05 PANEL DISCUSSION: Assays for Novel Products
Moderator: Jack A. Ragheb, M.D., Ph.D.,Chief Medical Research Officer, Office of Biological Products, CDER/FDA; Attending Physician, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, NIH
Panelists: Wenfeng Xu, Ph.D., Associate Director, BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech
Laura I. Salazar-Fontana, Strategic Advisor for Immunology and Biomarkers, Sanofi R&D
- Applying risk factors and systems immunology
- Designing bioanalytical strategies
- Selecting PK formats
11:35 Humanized Mouse Models: Applicability and Potential Use in Immunogenicity Studies
Jack A. Ragheb, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Research Officer, Office of Biological Products, CDER/FDA; Attending Physician, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, NIH
Various efforts have been made to generate “humanized” mouse models that would more accurately reflect the human experience. We have focused on the humanized BLT mouse model. We hope to address whether biologic drug
product attributes that are thought to be immunogenic in vivo can be predicted utilizing this novel humanized mouse model. The qualification of an animal model that will accurately predict the clinical immunogenicity of therapeutic
proteins would be expected to result in safer and more efficacious therapeutic biologicals.
12:05 pm Historical Perspective on Immunogenicity: What Have We Learned and Where are We Headed
Melissa Wojcik, Sr. Associate Scientist, Analytical Development, Histogenics Corp. (Contractor)
In 1985, the FDA approved the organ transplant rejection therapy, Muromonab-CD3, the first monoclonal antibody. Patients responded well; however, some experienced serious adverse events. The immunogenic hybridoma structure forced
scrutiny on dosing strategy. Unlike small molecules, biologics don’t have the luxury of in vitro toxicity ADME modeling. In spite of these challenges, biologics improved to predict immune responses. This presentation
walks through industry’s lessons learned and future path.
12:35 End of Strategies for Immunogenicity Assay Assessment
5:15 Registration for Dinner Short Courses