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Monoclonal Antibody Reagent Stability and Expiry Recommendation Combining Experimental Data with Mathematical Modeling

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Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are widely used as critical reagents in analytical assays. While regulatory guidelines exist for stability monitoring of biopharmaceutical antibodies, they do not apply directly to the stability of mAbs used as assay reagent. We investigated alternative approaches to real-time stability monitoring of assay reagents. We compared functional (ELISA and cell-based) and biochemical (aggregation, deamidation) assay results using temperature-stressed mAb reagents. Data from both assay groups were compared for indications of antibody degradation. Arrhenius model kinetics was used to further extrapolate stability trends. Changes detected by traditionally monitored biochemical changes were not directly predictive of assay function. Instead, monitoring of reportable results was a closer indication of changes in assay performance related to mAb degradation. Using Arrhenius kinetic modeling, we combined forced degradation of individual reagents with reportable assay results to classify reagents into risk groups with associated re-evaluation and monitoring plans. This combined approach mitigates risk by monitoring each mAb reagent individually under stressed conditions while streamlining expiry assignment through simplified Arrhenius kinetics with only limited real-time stability data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytical Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA

    Malorie Fink, Erin Marie Cannon, Carl Hofmann, Nisarg Patel, Cindy Pauley, Matthew Troutman, Richard R. Rustandi, Mary Shank-Retzlaff, John Loughney & Thorsten Verch

  2. WP 42A-200, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania, 19486, USA

    Thorsten Verch

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  1. Malorie Fink
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  2. Erin Marie Cannon
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Fink, M., Cannon, E.M., Hofmann, C. et al. Monoclonal Antibody Reagent Stability and Expiry Recommendation Combining Experimental Data with Mathematical Modeling. AAPS J 22, 145 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12248-020-00521-5

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