Investigation of a Degradant in a Biologics Formulation Buffer Containing L-Histidine

Abstract

Purpose: An unknown UV 280 nm absorbing peak was observed by SEC for protein stability samples formulated in L-histidine during a stress stability study. Understanding the source would enhance the confidence in the SEC results. We identified the unknown peak, studied the cause, and evaluated ways to eliminate it.

Methods: The unknown peak was fractionated by preparative size exclusion chromatography separations, and subsequently analyzed by Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography (HILIC) coupled with Time-of-Flight (TOF) high resolution mass spectrometry. The possible degradation was also studied with the presence of different excipients, including metal cations, chelating agents, and amino acids.

Results: The unknown peak was identified to be trans-urocanic acid, a degradant of histidine, based on evidences from HILIC retention time, UV profile, accurate mass measurement, trans-cis isomerization, and pI measurement. The degradation from histidine to urocanic acids was not affected by the presence of Fe(2+), but slightly activated by Mn(2+). The chelating agents, EDTA and DTPA, counteracted the Mn(2+) effects. This degradation was evidenced to be caused by contamination. Adding alanine or cysteine as an excipient was found to reduce this degradation by 97 and 98%, respectively.

Conclusions: L-histidine formulation buffer can be contaminated to induce histidine degradation to trans-urocanic acid, which shows a large UV 280 nm absorbing peak at the total permeation volume under SEC conditions. Amino acids alanine and cysteine effectively inhibit this histidine degradation.