A Review of the Totality of Evidence Supporting the Development of the First Adalimumab Biosimilar ABP 501

Abstract

ABP 501 [United States: AMJEVITA™ (adalimumab-atto); European Union: AMGEVITA^® (adalimumab)] is the first approved biosimilar to adalimumab [reference product (RP)], a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α). ABP 501 has received approval for use in indications that adalimumab RP is approved for, except those protected by regulatory exclusivity. A systematic step-wise totality of evidence (TOE) approach formed the basis of approval of ABP 501; this involved methodical accumulation of scientifically robust comparative data supporting similarity in analytical, preclinical, and clinical [pharmacokinetics (PK)], efficacy, safety and immunogenicity) evaluations. As a foundational first step, comprehensive analytical assessments demonstrated that ABP 501 is structurally and functionally similar to adalimumab RP in critical quality attributes. Preclinical assessments confirmed similar activity in assessing mechanisms of action and toxicology. Clinical evaluation included a phase 1 PK equivalence study in healthy subjects and two comparative phase 3 studies that evaluated ABP 501 and adalimumab RP in two sensitive patient populations, plaque psoriasis (PsO) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The PK profiles of ABP 501 and adalimumab RP were similar in healthy subjects as well as patients with PsO and RA. The pivotal phase 3 study in patients with PsO demonstrated that ABP 501 was clinically similar to adalimumab RP in terms of efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in both the primary and transition phases. The pivotal phase 3 study in patients with RA also established clinical similarity between ABP 501 and adalimumab RP; an open-label extension of this study demonstrated sustained efficacy over an additional 72 weeks, with no new safety or immunogenicity concerns with ABP 501 treatment. Overall, the TOE supported the conclusion that ABP 501 is highly similar to adalimumab RP and provided scientific justification for extrapolation to all the approved indications of adalimumab RP not protected by exclusivities.Funding: Amgen Inc.

Keywords: ABP 501; Adalimumab; Ankylosing spondylitis; Biosimilar; Inflammatory bowel disease; Juvenile idiopathic arthritis; Plaque psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Totality of evidence.

Fig. 1

ABP 501 development program: stepwise “totality-of-the-evidence” approach for biosimilarity demonstration. PD pharmacodynamics, PK pharmacokinetics, PsO plaque psoriasis, RA rheumatoid arthritis

Fig. 2

Structural similarity: comparison of primary structure of ABP 501 with adalimumab (US and EU) [9]: a reduced peptide map. b glycan map

Fig. 3

Functional similarity: comparison of ABP 501 with adalimumab (US and EU): a potency: inhibition of TNFα-induced apoptosis [11]; b potency: inhibition of TNFα-induced IL-8 secretion [11]; c effector function activity: induction of ADCC [11]; d effector function activity: induction of CDC [11]; e reverse signaling [12]

Fig. 4

ABP 501 phase 1 study: PK results [23]

Fig. 5

Phase 3 trial data in moderate to severe PsO: percentage improvement in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores: a primary efficacy results: baseline to week 16 [15]; b overall efficacy results: baseline to week 52 [16]

Fig. 6

Phase 3 trial data in moderate to severe RA: percentage of patients achieving ACR20, ACR50, and ACR75 [18]

Fig. 7

OLE trial data in moderate to severe RA: percentage of patients achieving ACR20 [19]