Preexisting Antibodies to an F(ab')2 Antibody Therapeutic and Novel Method for Immunogenicity Assessment

J Immunol Res. 2016:2016:2921758. doi: 10.1155/2016/2921758. Epub 2016 Jun 16.

Abstract

Anti-therapeutic antibodies (ATAs) may impact drug exposure and activity and induce immune complex mediated toxicity; therefore the accurate measurement of ATA is important for the analysis of drug safety and efficacy. Preexisting ATAs to the hinge region of anti-Delta like ligand 4 (anti-DLL4) F(ab')2, a potential antitumor therapeutic, were detected in cynomolgus monkey serum, which presented a challenge in developing assays for detecting treatment induced ATA. A total ATA assay was developed using a bridging ELISA that detected both anti-CDR and anti-framework ATA including anti-hinge reactivity. A competition assay that could detect 500 ng/mL of anti-CDR ATA in the presence of preexisting ATA was also developed to determine ATA specific to the anti-DLL4 F(ab')2 CDR using anti-DLL4 F(ab')2 and a control F(ab')2. We used these assay methods in a cynomolgus monkey in vivo study to successfully evaluate total and anti-CDR ATA. The preexisting anti-hinge reactivity was also observed to a lesser extent in human serum, and a similar approach could be applied for specific immunogenicity assessment in clinical trials.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay / methods*
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / immunology*
  • Isoantibodies / blood
  • Isoantibodies / immunology*
  • Male
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Isoantibodies