Nonclinical Similarity of the Biosimilar Candidate ABP 938 with Aflibercept Reference Product

Abstract Introduction ABP 938 is being developed as a biosimilar to Eylea® (aflibercept reference product [RP]), an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug used in the management of retinal diseases. Previously, a comparative analytical similarity assessment demonstrated that ABP 938 and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Neungseon Seo, Scott Kuhns, Dina A. Andrews, Alexander Colbert, Vincent Chow, Jennifer Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Adis, Springer Healthcare 2024-11-01
Series:Ophthalmology and Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-024-01043-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841544938563567616
author Neungseon Seo
Scott Kuhns
Dina A. Andrews
Alexander Colbert
Vincent Chow
Jennifer Liu
author_facet Neungseon Seo
Scott Kuhns
Dina A. Andrews
Alexander Colbert
Vincent Chow
Jennifer Liu
author_sort Neungseon Seo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction ABP 938 is being developed as a biosimilar to Eylea® (aflibercept reference product [RP]), an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug used in the management of retinal diseases. Previously, a comparative analytical similarity assessment demonstrated that ABP 938 and aflibercept RP have the same amino acid sequence and exhibit similar higher-order structure and biological activity. The nonclinical studies described here were designed to assess the in vitro pharmacology and the in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK), toxicokinetics (TK), and safety profiles of ABP 938 compared to aflibercept RP. Methods In vitro target-binding kinetics and affinity for VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PIGF) isoforms were evaluated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Effector functions were assessed by cell-based assays. PK was evaluated in a nonterminal intravitreal (IVT) ocular distribution study in rabbits. Safety was assessed in a 1-month IVT study in cynomolgus monkeys. Results SPR results demonstrated that ABP 938 is similar to aflibercept RP in binding kinetics and affinity for VEGF-A111, VEGF-A121, VEGF-A165, VEGF-A189, PlGF-1, and PlGF-2 isoforms. No antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, or complement-dependent cytotoxicity was observed with ABP 938 and aflibercept RP. Results from the nonterminal ocular distribution study in rabbits indicated that there were no meaningful differences in the distribution kinetics between intravitreally injected ABP 938 and aflibercept RP. Additionally, there was no evidence of ocular or systemic toxicity associated with IVT administration of ABP 938 in a repeat-dose, 1-month toxicology study in cynomolgus monkeys; toxicokinetic and toxicology profiles were similar to aflibercept RP. Conclusions This integrated assessment of results from the in vitro pharmacology assessment and in vivo PK and TK/toxicology profiles formed the nonclinical portion of the totality of evidence demonstrating ABP 938 is a biosimilar to aflibercept RP.
format Article
id doaj-art-d6424f7b468d4f1cb5a2db6dfd6714c5
institution Kabale University
issn 2193-8245
2193-6528
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Adis, Springer Healthcare
record_format Article
series Ophthalmology and Therapy
spelling doaj-art-d6424f7b468d4f1cb5a2db6dfd6714c52025-01-12T12:10:51ZengAdis, Springer HealthcareOphthalmology and Therapy2193-82452193-65282024-11-011418510110.1007/s40123-024-01043-5Nonclinical Similarity of the Biosimilar Candidate ABP 938 with Aflibercept Reference ProductNeungseon Seo0Scott Kuhns1Dina A. Andrews2Alexander Colbert3Vincent Chow4Jennifer Liu5Amgen Inc.Amgen Inc.Amgen Inc.Amgen Inc.Amgen Inc.Amgen Inc.Abstract Introduction ABP 938 is being developed as a biosimilar to Eylea® (aflibercept reference product [RP]), an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug used in the management of retinal diseases. Previously, a comparative analytical similarity assessment demonstrated that ABP 938 and aflibercept RP have the same amino acid sequence and exhibit similar higher-order structure and biological activity. The nonclinical studies described here were designed to assess the in vitro pharmacology and the in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK), toxicokinetics (TK), and safety profiles of ABP 938 compared to aflibercept RP. Methods In vitro target-binding kinetics and affinity for VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PIGF) isoforms were evaluated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Effector functions were assessed by cell-based assays. PK was evaluated in a nonterminal intravitreal (IVT) ocular distribution study in rabbits. Safety was assessed in a 1-month IVT study in cynomolgus monkeys. Results SPR results demonstrated that ABP 938 is similar to aflibercept RP in binding kinetics and affinity for VEGF-A111, VEGF-A121, VEGF-A165, VEGF-A189, PlGF-1, and PlGF-2 isoforms. No antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, or complement-dependent cytotoxicity was observed with ABP 938 and aflibercept RP. Results from the nonterminal ocular distribution study in rabbits indicated that there were no meaningful differences in the distribution kinetics between intravitreally injected ABP 938 and aflibercept RP. Additionally, there was no evidence of ocular or systemic toxicity associated with IVT administration of ABP 938 in a repeat-dose, 1-month toxicology study in cynomolgus monkeys; toxicokinetic and toxicology profiles were similar to aflibercept RP. Conclusions This integrated assessment of results from the in vitro pharmacology assessment and in vivo PK and TK/toxicology profiles formed the nonclinical portion of the totality of evidence demonstrating ABP 938 is a biosimilar to aflibercept RP.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-024-01043-5ABP 938AfliberceptBiosimilar pharmaceuticalsEye diseasesNonclinical similarityPharmacology
spellingShingle Neungseon Seo
Scott Kuhns
Dina A. Andrews
Alexander Colbert
Vincent Chow
Jennifer Liu
Nonclinical Similarity of the Biosimilar Candidate ABP 938 with Aflibercept Reference Product
Ophthalmology and Therapy
ABP 938
Aflibercept
Biosimilar pharmaceuticals
Eye diseases
Nonclinical similarity
Pharmacology
title Nonclinical Similarity of the Biosimilar Candidate ABP 938 with Aflibercept Reference Product
title_full Nonclinical Similarity of the Biosimilar Candidate ABP 938 with Aflibercept Reference Product
title_fullStr Nonclinical Similarity of the Biosimilar Candidate ABP 938 with Aflibercept Reference Product
title_full_unstemmed Nonclinical Similarity of the Biosimilar Candidate ABP 938 with Aflibercept Reference Product
title_short Nonclinical Similarity of the Biosimilar Candidate ABP 938 with Aflibercept Reference Product
title_sort nonclinical similarity of the biosimilar candidate abp 938 with aflibercept reference product
topic ABP 938
Aflibercept
Biosimilar pharmaceuticals
Eye diseases
Nonclinical similarity
Pharmacology
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-024-01043-5
work_keys_str_mv AT neungseonseo nonclinicalsimilarityofthebiosimilarcandidateabp938withafliberceptreferenceproduct
AT scottkuhns nonclinicalsimilarityofthebiosimilarcandidateabp938withafliberceptreferenceproduct
AT dinaaandrews nonclinicalsimilarityofthebiosimilarcandidateabp938withafliberceptreferenceproduct
AT alexandercolbert nonclinicalsimilarityofthebiosimilarcandidateabp938withafliberceptreferenceproduct
AT vincentchow nonclinicalsimilarityofthebiosimilarcandidateabp938withafliberceptreferenceproduct
AT jenniferliu nonclinicalsimilarityofthebiosimilarcandidateabp938withafliberceptreferenceproduct