Feasibility Study for Bedside Production of Recombinant Human Acid α-Glucosidase: Technical and Financial Considerations

Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2020;21(6):467-479. doi: 10.2174/1389201021666200217113049.

Abstract

Objective: The high cost of orphan drugs limits their access by many patients, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Many orphan drugs are off-patent without alternative generic or biosimilar versions available. Production of these drugs at the point-of-care, when feasible, could be a cost-effective alternative.

Methods: The financial feasibility of this approach was estimated by setting up a small-scale production of recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase (rhGAA). The commercial version of rhGAA is Myozyme™, and Lumizyme™ in the United States, which is used to treat Pompe disease. The rhGAA was produced in CHO-K1 mammalian cells and purified using multiple purification steps to obtain a protein profile comparable to Myozyme™.

Results: The established small-scale production of rhGAA was used to obtain a realistic cost estimation for the magistral production of this biological drug. The treatment cost of rhGAA using bedside production was estimated at $3,484/gram, which is 71% lower than the commercial price of Myozyme ™.

Conclusion: This study shows that bedside production might be a cost-effective approach to increase the access of patients to particular life-saving drugs.

Keywords: Affordability; Pompe disease; bedside production; orphan drug; rare disease; rhGAA..

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Drug Costs
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Glycogen Storage Disease Type II / drug therapy*
  • Glycogen Storage Disease Type II / enzymology
  • Humans
  • Orphan Drug Production / economics*
  • Orphan Drug Production / methods*
  • Recombinant Proteins / economics
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification*
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • alpha-Glucosidases / economics
  • alpha-Glucosidases / genetics
  • alpha-Glucosidases / isolation & purification*
  • alpha-Glucosidases / metabolism

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • GAA protein, human
  • alpha-Glucosidases