Antibody Subunit LC-MS Analysis for Pharmacokinetic and Biotransformation Determination from In-Life Studies for Complex Biotherapeutics

Abstract

Complex biotherapeutics present challenges from drug discovery, screening, and development perspectives. While monoclonal antibody drugs are not monitored for metabolites in the same manner as small molecules, biotherapeutics such as fusion proteins, antibody-drug conjugates, or bispecific antibodies may undergo biotransformation (such as clipping, deamidation, or oxidation) in vivo, resulting in catabolites that can have a direct impact on drug safety or efficacy. Here antibody subunit LC-MS is utilized for evaluation of two classes of complex biotherapeutics: an antibody-drug conjugate and a mAb-fusion biotherapeutic. Pharmacokinetic concentration, biotransformation, and DAR data are collectively presented using the subunit LC-MS approach for the two molecules, and the methods shared in detail can be applied to any humanized IgG1 mAb biotherapeutic for preclinical study support. Overall, the data generated from antibody LC-MS analyses can provide key information in early phase development and deliver multiple study end points with a single data set.