Rapid cGMP manufacturing of COVID-19 monoclonal antibody using stable CHO cell pools.

Therapeutic proteins, including monoclonal antibodies, are typically manufactured using clonally derived, stable host cell lines, since consistent and predictable cell culture performance is highly desirable. However, selecting and preparing banks of stable clones takes considerable time, which inevitably extends overall development timelines for new therapeutics by delaying the start of subsequent activities, such as the scale-up of manufacturing processes. In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with its intense pressure for accelerated development strategies, we used a novel transposon-based Leap-In Transposase® system to rapidly generate high-titer stable pools and then used them directly for large scale-manufacturing of an anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 monoclonal antibody under cGMP. We performed the safety testing of our non-clonal cell bank, then used it to produce material at a 200L-scale for preclinical safety studies and formulation development work, and thereafter at 2000L scale for supply of material for a Phase 1 clinical trial. Testing demonstrated the comparability of critical product qualities between the two scales and, more importantly, that our final clinical trial product met all pre-set product quality specifications. The above expediated approach provided clinical trial material within 4.5 months, in comparison to 12-14 months for production of clinical trial material via the conventional approach.

Administration of follitropin alfa and lutropin alfa combined in a single injection: a feasibility assessment.

BACKGROUND: Gonadotrophins are routinely administered in assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment protocols. Recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH; follitropin alfa) and recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH; lutropin alfa) can be administered individually or in a fixed combination. The ability to vary the FSH to LH dose ratio in a single injection without compromising the bioactivity of either gonadotrophin or generating losses of active principle is important for physicians and patients alike. METHODS: This study investigated whether follitropin alfa (GONAL-f ), as lyophilized powder for reconstitution or solution from the GONAL-f (filled-by-mass [FbM]) Prefilled Pen, could be used to reconstitute Pergoveris TM (follitropin alfa/lutropin alfa 150 IU/75 IU) lyophilized powder. In Ratio Groups 1 and 2, the r-hFSH:r-hLH ratio was 3:1; in Ratio Groups 3 and 4, the ratios of r-hFSH:r-hLH were 5:1 and 8:1, respectively. The protein content and bioactivity of each mixed solution were evaluated. The r-hFSH and r-hLH content was determined using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The biological activity of r-hFSH and r-hLH was assessed using the Steelman-Pohley and Van Hell in vivo bioassays in rats, respectively. RESULTS: Follitropin alfa/lutropin alfa 150 IU/75 IU lyophilized powder could be successfully mixed with follitropin alfa 75 IU FbM solution that was either reconstituted from lyophilized powder or injected directly from the prefilled pen to create solutions with ratios of r-hFSH and r-hLH from 3:1 to 8:1. The measured content of r-hFSH and r-hLH corresponded favourably with the target protein content in Ratio Groups 1-4. The in vivo target and measured bioactivity of r-hFSH and r-hLH were also closely matched in all Ratio Groups. CONCLUSION: Follitropin alfa lyophilized powder or solution can be accurately mixed with follitropin alfa/lutropin alfa 150 IU/75 IU lyophilized powder to enable physicians to administer ratios of r-hFSH and r-hLH in the IU range from 3:1 to 8:1. Mixing of recombinant formulations offers flexibility for patients receiving follitropin alfa and lutropin alfa for ART protocols in clinical practice.

Tetrakis(thiadiazole)porphyrazines. 4. Direct template synthesis, structure, general physicochemical behavior, and redox properties of Al(III), Ga(III), and In(III) complexes.

Monometallic derivatives of tetrakis(1,2,5-thiadiazole)porphyrazine, [TTDPzH2], with main group tervalent metal ions having the formulae [TTDPzMX] (TTDPz = tetrakis(1,2,5-thiadiazole)porphyrazinato dianion; M = Al(III), X = Cl-, Br-, OH-; M = Ga(III), X = Cl-, OH-; M = In(III), X = AcO-) were prepared and investigated by single-crystal X-ray analysis and IR and UV-vis spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry. The complexes [TTDPzMX] (M = Al(III), X = Cl-, Br-; M = Ga(III), X = Cl-) were obtained by direct autocyclotetramerization of the precursor 3,4-dicyano-1,2,5-thiadiazole in hot quinoline in the presence of MX3 salts (M = Al(III), Ga(III); X = Cl-, Br-) and were hydrolized to form the corresponding hydroxide derivatives, [TTDPzMOH]. The In(III) complex, [TTDPzIn(OAc)], was obtained from the free-base macrocycle [TTDPzH2] with In(OH)(OAc)2 in CH3COOH. A single-crystal X-ray study was made at 173 K on the two isostructural species [TTDPzMCl] (M = Al(III), Ga(III)), which have space group P, with a = 12.470(14), b = 12.464(13), and c = 13.947(12) angstroms, alpha = 70.72(3), beta = 79.76(3), and gamma = 90.06(3) degrees, V = 2009.3(3) angstroms3, and Z = 4 for [TTDPzAlCl] and a = 12.429(3), b = 12.430(3), and c = 13.851(3) angstroms, alpha = 70.663(6), beta = 79.788(8), and gamma = 89.991(9) degrees, V = 1983.3(7) angstroms3, and Z = 4 for [TTDPzGaCl]. Square pyramidal coordination exists about the M(III) centers, with Cl- occupying the apical position (Al-Cl = 2.171(5) and Ga-Cl = 2.193(1) angstroms). Al(III) and Ga(III) are located at distances of 0.416(6) and 0.444(2) angstroms from the center of the N4 system. The molecular packing consists of stacked double layers with internal and external average interlayer distances of 3.2 and 3.3 angstroms, respectively. IR spectra show nu(Al-Cl) at 345 cm(-1) for [TTDPzAlCl], nu(Al-Br) at 330 cm(-1) for [TTDPzAlBr], and nu(Ga-Cl) at 382 cm(-1) for [TTDPzGaCl]. The UV-vis spectra in weakly basic (pyridine, DMF, DMSO) and acidic solvents (CF3COOH, H2SO4) show the typical intense pi --> pi transition bands in the Soret (300-400 nm) and Q-band regions (640-660 nm), the bands evidencing some dependence on the nature of the solvent, particularly in acidic solutions. Cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and thin-layer spectroelectrochemical measurements in pyridine and dimethylformamide of the species [TTDPzMX] indicate reversible first and second one-electron reductions, whereas additional ill-defined reductions are observed at more negative potentials. The examined species are much easier to reduce than their phthalocyanine or porphyrin analogues as a result of the remarkable electron-attracting properties of the TTDPz macrocycle which contains annulated strongly electron-deficient thiadiazole rings.