The Effects of Excipients on Freeze-dried Monoclonal Antibody Formulation Degradation and Sub-Visible Particle Formation during Shaking.

PURPOSES: We previously reported an unexpected phenomenon that shaking stress could cause more protein degradation in freeze-dried monoclonal antibody (mAb) formulations than liquid ones (J Pharm Sci, 2022, 2134). The main purposes of the present study were to investigate the effects of shaking stress on protein degradation and sub-visible particle (SbVP) formation in freeze-dried mAb formulations, and to analyze the factors influencing protein degradation during production and transportation. METHODS: The aggregation behavior of mAb-X formulations during production and transportation was simulated by shaking at a rate of 300 rpm at 25°C for 24 h. The contents of particles and monomers were analyzed by micro-flow imaging, dynamic light scattering, size exclusion chromatography, and ultraviolet - visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy to compare the protective effects of excipients on the aggregation of mAb-X. RESULTS: Shaking stress could cause protein degradation in freeze-dried mAb-X formulations, while surfactant, appropriate pH, polyol mannitol, and high protein concentration could impact SbVP generation. Water content had little effect on freeze-dried protein degradation during shaking, as far as the water content was controlled in the acceptable range as recommended by mainstream pharmacopoeias (i.e., less than 3%). CONCLUSIONS: Shaking stress can reduce the physical stability of freeze-dried mAb formulations, and the addition of surfactants, polyol mannitol, and a high protein concentration have protective effects against the degradation of model mAb formulations induced by shaking stress. The experimental results provide new insight for the development of freeze-dried mAb formulations.

mRNA-based vaccines - global approach, challenges, and could be a promising wayout for future pandemics.

mRNA-based vaccines are assured to significantly boost biopharmaceuticals since outbreak of coronavirus disease- 2019. Respiratory infections, such as influenza, SARS, MERS, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, often have high transmission rates due to their airborne spread. Respiratory infections can lead to severe illness and death. These outbreaks can cause substantial economic and social disruption, as seen with the COVID-19 pandemic. In our interconnected world, respiratory diseases can spread rapidly across borders. mRNA-based vaccines (e.g. mRNA-1283) can reduce the transmission by creating immunity in the population, thus lowering the incidence and spread of these diseases. Vaccines are crucial for global health security, helping to prevent local outbreaks from becoming global pandemics. Nevertheless, various concerns remain such as intracellular delivery, susceptibility to degradation by catalytic hydrolysis, and instability due to several physiological conditions. Therefore, an hour needed to address these challenges and opportunities for attaining high-quality and stable mRNA-based vaccines with novel drug delivery systems. The authors contributed an extensive review of the mRNA-based clinical development, progress in stability, and delivery challenges to mitigate market needs. In addition, the authors discuss crucial advances in the growth of mRNA-based vaccines to date; which dominate an extensive scope of therapeutic implementation. Finally, recent mRNA-based vaccines in clinical trials, adjuvant benefits, and prospects are discussed.

Apoptotic impact on Brugia malayi by sulphonamido-quinoxaline: search for a novel therapeutic rationale.

Human lymphatic filariasis although not fatal but poses serious socioeconomic burden due to associated disability. This is reflected by the huge magnitude of the estimated disability-adjusted life years of about 5.09 million. Therefore, following WHO mandate, our earlier studies on antifilarial drug development revealed the significance of apoptosis. Apoptotic impact has been implicated in anticancer rationale of several drugs. In this study, we explored the antifilarial potential of sulphonamido-quinoxaline compounds, shown to be specific inhibitor for c-Met kinase in human cancer cells. Out of studied compounds, Q4, showing favorable drug-likeness and medicinal chemistry properties on bioinformatics platform along with subsequently recorded lowest IC100 value, was considered as a suitable antifilarial candidate. Significant apoptosis due to mitochondrial involvement was recorded in drug-treated parasite unlike untreated control. In spite of homology between human c-Met kinase and Brugia malayi counterpart, comparative docking result of this compound showed more favorable binding parameters with the parasitic target. The wide gap between IC100 and LD50 values further confirmed the therapeutic safety. We propose sulphonamido-quinoxaline derivative as a lead candidate for antifilarial drug development. Further study is warranted to authenticate parasitic c-Met kinase as a novel therapeutic target reminiscent of anticancer rationale implicating inhibition of proliferation.

Histidine as a versatile excipient in the protein-based biopharmaceutical formulations.

Adequate stabilization is essential for marketed protein-based biopharmaceutical formulations to withstand the various stresses that can be exerted during the pre- and post-manufacturing processes. Therefore, a suitable choice of excipient is a significant step in the manufacturing of such delicate products. Histidine, an essential amino acid, has been extensively used in protein-based biopharmaceutical formulations. The physicochemical properties of histidine are unique among amino acids and could afford multifaceted benefits to protein-based biopharmaceutical formulations. With a pKa of approximately 6.0 at the side chain, histidine has been primarily used as a buffering agent, especially for pH 5.5-6.5. Additionally, histidine exhibited several affirmative properties similar to those of carbohydrates (e.g., sucrose and trehalose) and could therefore be considered to be an alternative approach to established protein-based formulation strategies. The current review describes the general physicochemical properties of histidine, lists all commercial histidine-containing protein-based biopharmaceutical products, and discusses a brief outline of the existing research focused on the versatile applications of histidine, which can act as a buffering agent, stabilizer, cryo/lyo-protectant, antioxidant, viscosity reducer, and solubilizing agent. The interaction between histidine and proteins in protein-based biopharmaceutical formulations, such as the Donnan effect during diafiltration of monoclonal antibody solutions and the degradation of polysorbates in histidine buffer, has also been discussed. As the first review of histidine in protein biopharmaceuticals, it helps to deepen our understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with histidine as an excipient for protein-based biopharmaceutical formulations.

Application of in-silico drug discovery techniques to discover a novel hit for target-specific inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro's revealed allosteric binding with MAO-B receptor: A theoretical study to find a cure for post-covid neurological disorder.

Several studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 damages brain function and produces significant neurological disability. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, may infect the heart, kidneys, and brain. Recent research suggests that monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) may be involved in metabolomics variations in delirium-prone individuals and severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. In light of this situation, we have employed a variety of computational to develop suitable QSAR model using PyDescriptor and genetic algorithm-multilinear regression (GA-MLR) models (R2 = 0.800-793, Q2LOO = 0.734-0.727, and so on) on the data set of 106 molecules whose anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity was empirically determined. QSAR models generated follow OECD standards and are predictive. QSAR model descriptors were also observed in x-ray-resolved structures. After developing a QSAR model, we did a QSAR-based virtual screening on an in-house database of 200 compounds and found a potential hit molecule. The new hit's docking score (-8.208 kcal/mol) and PIC50 (7.85 M) demonstrated a significant affinity for SARS-CoV-2's main protease. Based on post-covid neurodegenerative episodes in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's-like disorders and MAO-B's role in neurodegeneration, the initially disclosed hit for the SARS-CoV-2 main protease was repurposed against the MAO-B receptor using receptor-based molecular docking, which yielded a docking score of -12.0 kcal/mol. This shows that the compound that inhibits SARS-CoV-2's primary protease may bind allosterically to the MAO-B receptor. We then did molecular dynamic simulations and MMGBSA tests to confirm molecular docking analyses and quantify binding free energy. The drug-receptor complex was stable during the 150-ns MD simulation. The first computational effort to show in-silico inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and allosteric interaction of novel inhibitors with MAO-B in post-covid neurodegenerative symptoms and other disorders. The current study seeks a novel compound that inhibits SAR's COV-2 Mpro and perhaps binds MAO-B allosterically. Thus, this study will enable scientists design a new SARS-CoV-2 Mpro that inhibits the MAO-B receptor to treat post-covid neurological illness.

An Overview of the Stability and Delivery Challenges of Commercial Nucleic Acid Therapeutics.

Nucleic acid (NA)-based biopharmaceuticals have emerged as promising therapeutic modalities. NA therapeutics are a diverse class of RNA and DNA and include antisense oligonucleotides, siRNA, miRNA, mRNA, small activating RNA, and gene therapies. Meanwhile, NA therapeutics have posed significant stability and delivery challenges and are expensive. This article discusses the challenges and opportunities for achieving stable formulations of NAs with novel drug delivery systems (DDSs). Here we review the current progress in the stability issues and the significance of novel DDSs associated with NA-based biopharmaceuticals, as well as mRNA vaccines. We also highlight the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved NA-based therapeutics with their formulation profiles. NA therapeutics could impact future markets if the remaining challenges and requirements are addressed. Regardless of the limited information available for NA therapeutics, reviewing and collating the relevant facts and figures generates a precious resource for formulation experts familiar with the NA therapeutics' stability profile, their delivery challenges, and regulatory acceptance.

Current developments of bioanalytical sample preparation techniques in pharmaceuticals.

Sample preparation is considered as the bottleneck step in bioanalysis because each biological matrix has its own unique challenges and complexity. Competent sample preparation to extract the desired analytes and remove redundant components is a crucial step in each bioanalytical approach. The matrix effect is a key hurdle in bioanalytical sample preparation, which has gained extensive consideration. Novel sample preparation techniques have advantages over classical techniques in terms of accuracy, automation, ease of sample preparation, storage, and shipment and have become increasingly popular over the past decade. Our objective is to provide a broad outline of current developments in various bioanalytical sample preparation techniques in chromatographic and spectroscopic examinations. In addition, how these techniques have gained considerable attention over the past decade in bioanalytical research is mentioned with preferred examples. Modern trends in bioanalytical sample preparation techniques, including sorbent-based microextraction techniques, are primarily emphasized.

Freeze-Dried Monoclonal Antibody Formulations are Unexpectedly More Prone to Degradation Than Liquid Formulations Under Shaking Stress.

Liquid biopharmaceuticals including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been widely acknowledged to undergo various stresses during shipping/handling and long-term storage. Several mechanical stresses including shaking during shipping has been widely known to cause protein aggregation and sub-visible particle (SbVP) formation in liquid biopharmaceutical formulations. However, shaking-induced degradation of freeze-dried (FD) biopharmaceuticals has seldomly been reported in the literature and therefore this type of stress is widely overlooked in industry due to their presumed high stability, especially when the formulations and freeze-drying processes are fully optimized. In this Lessons Learned article, we report an interesting phenomenon in which the optimized FD biopharmaceutical formulations of three typical mAbs showed much degradation and SbVP formation under shaking stress compared with their liquid counterparts. This is a striking deviation to the notion that mAbs are generally more stable in the FD formulations than in the liquid ones. Therefore, shaking stress experiment should be considered a critical stress condition for early-stage selection of liquid versus FD mAb formulations.

Prefilled dual chamber devices (DCDs) - Promising high-quality and convenient drug delivery system.

Prefilled dual chamber devices (DCDs) are combination products containing freeze-dried drug and diluent in two separate chambers of the device. DCDs provide high stability and convenience to patients and doctors, thus significantly improving product quality, patient compliance and market competitiveness. DCDs should also provide seal integrity, sterility and compatibility with biopharmaceuticals and avoid leachability and needle stick injuries. DCDs are promising alternatives to traditional containers or devices for biopharmaceuticals. The regulatory and medical practice to choose plastic DCDs as better alternatives over well-established glass syringes will be addressed here. The impact and major issues during processing, manufacturing, and storage of DCDs are also highlighted. Further discussion clears its business potential, composition, stability testing, and quality standard requirements to deal with market competition. It also covers major role of extractables and leachables in storage stability of the product.

Pre-filled syringe - a ready-to-use drug delivery system: a review.

INTRODUCTION: Fueled by a growing global expectation of the health and medical fields, billions of dollars/euros/pounds are invested every year in the research of new biological and chemical entities. However, little interest is seen in the development of novel drug delivery systems. One such system, pre-filled syringe (PFS), was invented decades ago but is still a rare mode of delivery in many therapeutic segments. AREAS COVERED: This review comprises properties and effects of extractables, leachables and discuss the characteristics of PFS technology; its composition, glass and polymer types, configuration of PFS, advantages over glass, technical and commercial applicability; its significance against patient, industry, quality, environment and cost; and its business potential. We discuss in brief about PFS used in various major and life-threatening disorders and future prospects. It provides showers of knowledge in the field of PFS drug delivery technology to the reader's, industrialist's and researcher's point of view. EXPERT OPINION: The PFS drug delivery system offers a wonderful panorama to lifesaving drugs that are currently only available in conventional vials and ampoules in the market. A novel approach of Form Fill Seal technology can be adopted for this particular ready-to-use dosage form also, which opens the new global doors for budding researchers in the field of pre-filled drug delivery system.

A world of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) enoxaparin as a promising moiety--a review.

Anti-coagulants are one of the most important categories in healthcare therapeutics. For healthcare professionals dealing in cases of in-vivo blood clotting problems. Heparin and low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) would be the first choice of drugs. This review represents an overview of the LMWHs, their importance over heparin and enlightens the advancements. In addition to these, different methods used for preparation and purification are discuss in terms of production and synthesis. Worldwide availability in pre-filled syringe, market, manufacturers and suppliers drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, in-vitro study, freezing/thawing process and structural differences of LMWHs are also focused upon in this review.