Extensive preclinical evaluation of an infliximab biosimilar candidate

July 28, 2017

Title

Extensive preclinical evaluation of an infliximab biosimilar candidate

Author

MA. Velasco-Velázquez, N. Salinas-Jazmin, E. Hisaki-Itaya, L. Cobos-Puc, W. Xolalpa, G. Gonzalez, A. Tenorio-Calvo, N. Piña-Lara, LC. Juarez-Bayardo, LF. Flores-Ortiz, E. Medina-Rivero, NO. Pérez, SM. Pérez-Tapia

Year

2017

Journal

European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Abstract

Infliximab is therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) against TNF-α employed in the treatment of immunoinflammatory diseases. The development of biosimilar mAbs is a global strategy to increase drug accessibility and reduce therapy-associated costs. Herein we compared key physicochemical characteristics and biological activities produced by infliximab and infliximab-Probiomed in order to identify functionally relevant differences between the mAbs. Binding of infliximab-Probiomed to TNF-α was specific and had kinetics comparable to that of the reference product. Both mAbs had highly similar neutralizing efficacy in HUVEC cell cultures stimulated with TNF-α. In vitro induction of CDC and ADCC were also similar between the evaluated products. In vivo comparability was assessed using a transgenic mouse model of arthritis that expresses human TNF-α in a 13-week multiple-administration study. Infliximab and infliximab-Probiomed showed comparable efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic profiles. Our results indicate that infliximab-Probiomed has highly similar activities to infliximab in preclinical models, warranting a clinical evaluation of its biosimilarity.

Instrument

J-815

Keywords

Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Tertiary structure, Antibodies, Biochemistry