ABSTRACT
Monoclonal antibodies require careful formulation due to their inherent stability limitations. Polysorbates are commonly used to stabilize mAbs, but they are prone to degradation, which results in unwanted impurities. KLEPTOSE® HPßCD (hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin) has functioned as a stable stabilizer for protein formulations in our previous research. The current study investigates the collaborative impact of combining polysorbates and HPßCD as excipients in protein formulations. The introduction of HPßCD in formulations showed it considerably reduced aggregation in two model proteins, bevacizumab and ipilimumab, following exposure to various stress conditions. The diffusion interaction parameter revealed a reduction in protein-protein interactions by HPßCD. In bevacizumab formulations, the subvisible particle counts per 0.4 mL of samples in commercial formulations vs. formulations containing both HPßCD and polysorbates subjected to distinct stressors were as follows: agitation, 87,308 particles vs. 15,350 particles; light, 25,492 particles vs. 6765 particles; and heat, 1775 particles vs. 460 particles. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurement indicated a weak interaction between PS 80 and HPßCD, with a KD value of 74.7 ± 7.5 µM and binding sites of 5 × 10-3. Surface tension measurements illustrated that HPßCD enhanced the surface activity of polysorbates. The study suggests that combining these excipients can improve mAb stability in formulations, offering an alternative for the biopharmaceutical industry.
ABSTRACT
Current work investigates a typical issue in formulating a physically stable solution especially when more than one counter ions exist in the composition. The impact of different counter ions on solubilization of monohydrate esylate salt of a free base GSK-497,[BH+:C2H5SO3-:H2O] (1:1) (pKa value 8.0) was investigated to formulate ready to use small volume injectable solution. The concentration dependent aggregation was also appeared to be responsible for hemolytic nature of the drug, therefore a careful investigation was needed to select appropriate counter ion solution without compromising solubilization and leading into higher order aggregation. The esylate salt's native pH in water was closer to pHmax, thus it was risky to render the solution unbuffered. Generally, it is recommended to formulate at least two pH unit away from pHmax to prevent disproportionation related physical instability. This was achieved by buffering solution away from pHmax, using a lactate counter ion (other than esylate salt of API salt) that did not compromise solubility of the given phase and did not appear to promote higher order of aggregation. The rationale for selecting second counter ion was primarily based on the comparison of esylate salt's solubility product (Ksp), with the Ksp value generated from equilibrium solubility of the free base combined with several different counter ions (chloride, lactate, aspartate, citrate and tartrate) at equimolar molar ratio. This approach suggested that the use of a counter ion with higher Ksp (lactate and aspartate) value did not compromise the solubility of original esylate salt but a higher extent of aggregation was possible if aspartate is used to achieve higher solubility. In contrary, use of a counter ion with lower Ksp (citrate, tartrate, chloride) reduced the solubility hence did not favor higher order of aggregation. Thus, based on Ksp comparison a rationale of selecting second counter ion to buffer the salt solution is discussed in this work and optimal formulation concentration is determined based on drug aggregation threshold in solution.
