An Immunodeficient Mouse Model With Circulating Human Platelets To Evaluate The Platelet Clearance and Pharmacokinetics Of Platelet-Targeted Coagulation Factor VIIa

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2345-2345
Author(s):  
Siyuan Tan ◽  
Kai Chen ◽  
Joe Salas ◽  
Robert Peters ◽  
David R. Light ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Half Life ◽  
Hemophilia A ◽  
Human Platelet ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Nsg Mice ◽  
Equity Ownership

Abstract Treatment of bleeding episodes in hemophilia patients with inhibitory antibodies to factor VIII or factor IX by recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven) has been sub-optimal partly due to its low affinity to activated platelets and its short half-life in circulation. To develop a rFVIIa variant with enhanced coagulant activity, we have targeted rFVIIa to platelets by monoclonal antibodies that recognize the human platelet receptor αIIbβ3. However, the assessment of pharmacokinetic parameters in mice is limited by the lack of recognition of mouse αIIbβ3 by antibodies to human αIIbβ3. The present study addresses the need to develop appropriate in vivo models to study this new class of bypass therapeutics. First, we evaluated the survival of human platelets in hemophilia A, NOD/SCID, and NOD/SCID/gamma (NSG) mice. Platelet concentrates were prepared from normal human donors and transfused retro-orbitally into mice. The whole blood from dosed mice was then collected via tail vein laceration at various times and the human platelet counts in blood was determined by flow cytometry after staining with fluorescently labeled antibodies against human CD42b, mouse CD61, human FVII to visualize the human platelets, mouse platelets, and the FVIIa candidate that bound to human platelets, respectively. The half-life of human platelets in NOD/scid/gamma (NSG) mice was approximately 4 hours, which is considerably longer than the 0.8 hour half-life observed in hemophilia A mice. The effect of platelet-targeted FVIIa variants on the clearance of human platelets was then investigated in NSG mice. The FVIIa candidates were pre-selected for their inactivity toward human platelet activation and aggregation, as determined in a battery of in vitro assays. In agreement with the in vitro results, all of these selected candidates did not affect the clearance of the transfused human platelets when dosed in NSG mice at 5 nmol/kg. In contrast, a control antibody fusion protein that is known to activate platelets and cause thrombocytopenia in vivo led to rapid platelet clearance in NSG mice. Similar results were observed for these proteins in cynomolgous monkeys when dosed at 2 nmol/kg. The NSG mice with circulating human platelets were also explored to evaluate the clearance of FVIIa candidates that remain platelet-associated in vivo. To improve the pharmacokinetics, we have fused XTEN, a hydrophilic peptide that increases the dynamic radius of payload proteins, to the platelet-targeted FVIIa candidates. When tested in NSG mice model for the clearance of platelet-associated protein, addition of XTEN markedly reduced the clearance rate, resulting in several fold increase in exposure. Together these data indicate that NSG mice with circulating human platelets can be used to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of the platelet-targeted FVIIa variants, and the method can be adapted to evaluate other agents designed to utilize platelet-targeting approaches. Disclosures: Tan: Biogen Idec: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chen:Biogen Idec: Employment, Equity Ownership. Salas:Biogen Idec: Employment, Equity Ownership. Peters:Biogen Idec: Employment, Equity Ownership. Light:Biogen Idec: Employment; Biogen Idec: Equity Ownership. Jiang:Biogen Idec: Employment; Biogen Idec: Equity Ownership.

scholarly journals Phenotype Does Not Always Equal Function: HDAC Inhibitors and UM171, but Not SR1, Lead to Rapid Upregulation of CD90 on Non-Engrafting CD34+CD90-Negative Human Cells

Blood ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 130 (Suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 659-659
Author(s):  
Kevin A. Goncalves ◽  
Megan D. Hoban ◽  
Jennifer L. Proctor ◽  
Hillary L. Adams ◽  
Sharon L. Hyzy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Culture ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Hdac Inhibitors ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Nsg Mice ◽  
Cd34 Cells ◽  
Equity Ownership ◽  
Human Hscs

Abstract Background. The ability to expand human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has the potential to improve outcomes in HSC transplantation and increase the dose of gene-modified HSCs. While many approaches have been reported to expand HSCs, a direct comparison of the various methods to expand transplantable HSCs has not been published and clinical outcome data for the various methods is incomplete. In the present study, we compared several small molecule approaches reported to expand human HSCs including HDAC inhibitors, the aryl hydrocarbon antagonist, SR1, and UM171, a small molecule with unknown mechanism, for the ability to expand phenotypic HSC during in vitro culture and to expand cells that engraft NSG mice. Although all strategies increased the number of phenotypic HSC (CD34+CD90+CD45RA-) in vitro, SR1 was the most effective method to increase the number of NOD-SCID engrafting cells. Importantly, we found that HDAC inhibitors and UM171 upregulated phenotypic stem cell markers on downstream progenitors, suggesting that these compounds do not expand true HSCs. Methods. Small-molecules, SR1, HDAC inhibitors (BG45, CAY10398, CAY10433, CAY10603, Entinostat, HC Toxin, LMK235, PCI-34051, Pyroxamide, Romidepsin, SAHA, Scriptaid, TMP269, Trichostatin A, or Valproic Acid) and UM171 were titrated and then evaluated at their optimal concentrations in the presence of cytokines (TPO, SCF, FLT3L, and IL6) for the ability to expand human mobilized peripheral blood (mPB)-derived CD34+ cells ex vivo . Immunophenotype and cell numbers were assessed by flow cytometry following a 7-day expansion assay in 10-point dose-response (10 µM to 0.5 nM). HSC function was evaluated by enumeration of colony forming units in methylcellulose and a subset of the compounds were evaluated by transplanting expanded cells into sub-lethally irradiated NSG mice to assess engraftment potential in vivo . All cells expanded with compounds were compared to uncultured or vehicle-cultured cells. Results. Following 7 days of expansion, SR1 (5-fold), UM171 (4-fold), or HDAC inhibitors (>3-35-fold) resulted in an increase in CD34+CD90+CD45RA- number relative to cells cultured with cytokines alone; however, only SR1 (18-fold) and UM171 (8-fold) demonstrated enhanced engraftment in NSG mice. Interestingly, while HDAC inhibitors and UM171 gave the most robust increase in the number and frequency of CD34+CD90+CD45RA- cells during in vitro culture, these methods were inferior to SR1 at increasing NSG engrafting cells. The increase in CD34+CD90+CD45RA- cells observed during in vitro culture suggested that these compounds may be generating a false phenotype by upregulating CD90 and down-regulating CD45RA on progenitors that were originally CD34+CD90-CD45RA+. We tested this hypothesis by sorting CD34+CD90-CD45RA+ cells and culturing these with the various compounds. These experiments confirmed that both HDAC inhibitors (33-100 fold) and UM171 (28-fold) led to upregulation of CD90 on CD34+CD90-CD45RA+ cells after 4 days in culture. Since approximately 90% of the starting CD34+ cells were CD90-, these data suggest that most of the CD34+CD90+CD45RA- cells in cultures with HDAC inhibitors and UM171 arise from upregulation of CD90 rather than expansion of true CD34+CD90+CD45RA- cells and may explain the disconnect between in vitro HSC phenotype and NSG engraftment in vivo . This was further confirmed by evaluation of colony forming unit frequency of CD34+CD90-CD45RA+ cells after culture with compounds. Conclusions. We have showed that AHR antagonism is optimal for expanding functional human HSCs using the NSG engraftment model. We also demonstrated that UM171 and HDAC inhibitors upregulate phenotypic HSC markers on downstream progenitors. This could explain the discrepancy between impressive in vitro phenotypic expansion and insufficient functional activity in the NSG mouse model. Therefore, these data suggest caution when interpreting in vitro expansion phenotypes without confirmatory functional transplantation data, especially as these approaches move into clinical trials in patients. Disclosures Goncalves: Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hoban: Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Proctor: Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Adams: Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hyzy: Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Boitano: Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Cooke: Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties.

Calmodulin Inhibition Rescues the Effects of Ribosomal Protein Deficiency in in Vitro and In Vivo Diamond Blackfan Anemia Models

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 672-672
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R Macari ◽  
Alison Taylor ◽  
David Raiser ◽  
Kavitha Siva ◽  
Katherine McGrath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ribosomal Protein ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Diamond Blackfan Anemia ◽  
Equity Ownership

Abstract Ribosomal protein (RP) mutations are found in many diseases, including Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), where defective erythropoiesis, craniofacial abnormalities and increased cancer risk are major complications. RP mutations cause p53 activation through accumulation of free RPs that bind and sequester MDM2, the negative regulator of p53. We previously characterized a zebrafish mutant in rps29, a gene found mutated in DBA patients. Rps29-/- embryos have hematopoietic and endothelial defects, including decreased cmyb and flk1 expression and defects in hemoglobinization. Consistent with other animal models of RP dysfunction, p53 knockdown in rps29-/- embryos rescued these defects. To uncover novel compounds that correct the phenotypes of DBA, we performed a chemical screen in rps29-/- embryos. Several structurally distinct calmodulin (CaM) inhibitors successfully rescued hemoglobin (Hb) levels in the mutant embryo. To confirm that CaM inhibitors could rescue mammalian models of DBA, we applied them to human and murine models. Treating cord blood-derived CD34+ cells deficient in RPS19 with the CaM inhibitor, trifluoperazine (TFP), relieved the erythroid differentiation block. Injection of TFP in a DBA murine model significantly increased red blood cell number and Hb levels. Mechanistic studies in A549 cells infected with lentivirus expressing RPS19 shRNA demonstrated that TFP blocks p53 nuclear accumulation and induction of multiple p53 transcriptional target genes (p<0.05). Through p53 genetic manipulation, we determined that TFP inhibits p53 transcriptional activity through its c-terminal domain (CTD). Since this region has many residues that can be phosphorylated by CaM-dependent kinases, we hypothesized that TFP blocked phosphorylation of residues in the CTD. To test this hypothesis, phosphomimetic mutants were transfected into Saos2 cells and p53 transcriptional activity in response to TFP was evaluated using p21mRNA levels. TFP treatment of cells containing WT p53 or a transactivation domain mutant, S15D, resulted in a 4-fold reduction in p21 mRNA levels, while all four phosphomimetic mutants in the CTD had attenuated responses to TFP (<2-fold). The common CaM-dependent kinases that phosphorylate these CTD residues are Chk1 and Chk2. Investigation of the role of Chk1 and Chk2 found that a chk2 morpholino and multiple inhibitors of Chk2, but not Chk1, rescued Hb levels in the rps29-/- embryo (p<0.05). Chk2 inhibitors also mimic CaM inhibition in our in vitro assays. In conclusion, we have shown a novel mechanism by which CaM inhibitors mediate p53 activity through the CTD and can rescue the phenotypes of multiple in vitro and in vivo models of DBA. Our data strongly suggests that CaM or Chk2 inhibitors may be effective therapies for DBA patients, and a clinical trial is being planned with TFP. Disclosures Ebert: Genoptix: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties; H3 Biomedicine: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Zon:FATE Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Founder; Scholar Rock: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Founder.

scholarly journals Targeting CD45 with an Amanitin Antibody-Drug Conjugate Effectively Depletes Human HSCs and Immune Cells for Transplant Conditioning

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 4526-4526
Author(s):  
Rahul Palchaudhuri ◽  
Bradley R Pearse ◽  
Jennifer L Proctor ◽  
Sharon L. Hyzy ◽  
Sharon Aslanian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
P Values ◽  
Equity Ownership

Abstract Introduction Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is a potentially curative treatment for malignant and non-malignant blood disorders and has demonstrated impressive outcomes in autoimmune diseases. Prior to BMT, patients are prepared with high-dose chemotherapy alone or with total body irradiation, and both are associated with early and late morbidities, such as infertility, secondary malignancies and organ toxicity; and substantial risk of mortality. This greatly limits the use of BMT in malignant and non-malignant conditions. To address these issues, we are developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and immune cells to more safely condition patients for BMT. Results To enable simultaneous HSC and immune cell depletion for BMT we investigated targeting human CD45, a protein expressed exclusively on nearly all blood cells including HSCs. Antibody discovery campaigns identified several antibodies with sub-nanomolar affinities for human and non-human primate (NHP) CD45. We then created anti-CD45 ADCs with drug payloads including DNA-damaging, tubulin-targeting and RNA polymerase-inhibiting molecules. An ADC developed with alpha-amanitin (an RNA polymerase II inhibitor) enabled potent in vitro killing of primary human CD34+ HSCs and immune cells (40-120 picomolar IC50s). With this anti-CD45 amanitin ADC (CD45-AM), we explored depletion of HSCs and immune cells in vivo using humanized NSG mice. A single dose of 1 or 3 mg/kg CD45-AM enabled >95% depletion of human CD34+ cells in the bone marrow as assessed 7 or 14 days post-administration (Figure, n = 3/group, p values < 0.05); >95% depletion of human B-, T- and myeloid cells was observed in the periphery and bone marrow (Figure, p values < 0.05). Control non-targeting isotype matched-ADCs and anti-CD45 antibody not bearing a toxin had minimal effect on either HSC or immune cells. In hematopoietic malignancies, an anti-CD45 ADC would ideally reduce disease burden and enable BMT. In a model of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (REH cell line, n = 10 mice/group), and 3 patient-derived models of FLT3+NPM1+ acute myeloid leukemia (n = 4-5 mice/group per model), a single dose of 1 mg/kg CD45-AM more than doubled the median survival and several mice survived disease-free (p values < 0.001). Anti-CD45 antibodies have been investigated for BMT conditioning in patients as naked antibodies that rely on Fc-effector function to deplete lymphocytes (Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2003 9(4): 273-81); or as radioimmunotherapy (Blood. 2006 107(5): 2184-2191). These agents demonstrated infusion-related toxicities likely due to effector function elicited by the wild-type IgG backbone. To address this issue, we created anti-CD45 antibodies with reduced Fc-gamma receptor binding that prevented cytokine release in vitro and in humanized mice. As BMT will likely require fast clearing ADCs to avoid depleting the incoming graft, we also created fast-half-life CD45-AM variants with a t½ of 8-15 hours in mice. To determine the safety and pharmacokinetic properties of regular and fast half-life Fc-silent variants in an immune-competent large animal we tested these in cynomolgus monkeys. Single doses (3 mg/kg, iv, n = 3/group) of fast and regular half-life Fc-silent unconjugated anti-CD45 antibodies were both well tolerated in cynomolgus monkeys and displayed pharmacokinetic properties suitable for BMT. Conclusion These results demonstrate that targeting CD45 with an amanitin ADC results in potent in vitro and in vivo human HSC and immune cell depletion. This new CD45-AM ADC also significantly reduced disease burden in multiple leukemia models. Our results indicate Fc-silencing may avoid infusion-related toxicities observed with previous CD45 mAbs. An alpha-amanitin ADC targeted to CD45 may be appropriate for preparing patients for BMT since we hypothesize it may i) be non-genotoxic; ii) effectively deplete both HSC and immune cells; iii) avoid bystander toxicity, due to amanitin's poor cell permeability as a free toxin; and iv) kill cycling and non-cycling cells, the latter being necessary for effective HSC depletion. As our anti-CD45 ADCs are cross-reactive, we are currently investigating their HSC and immune cell depletion activity in vivo in NHPs to enable further preclinical development of these transplant conditioning agents. Disclosures Palchaudhuri: Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties; Harvard University: Patents & Royalties. Pearse:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Proctor:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hyzy:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Aslanian:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. McDonough:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sarma:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Brooks:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Bhat:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment. Ladwig:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. McShea:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kallen:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Li:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Panwar:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Dushime:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sawant:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Adams:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Falahee:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Lamothe:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gabros:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kien:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gillard:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. McDonagh:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Boitano:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Cooke:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties.

scholarly journals Mim8 - a Next-Generation FVIII Mimetic Bi-Specific Antibody - Potently Restores the Hemostatic Capacity in Hemophilia a Settings in Vitro and In Vivo

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 96-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stine L Kjellev ◽  
Henrik Østergaard ◽  
Per Jr Greisen ◽  
Mette B Hermit ◽  
Karina Thorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thrombin Generation ◽  
Bispecific Antibody ◽  
Hemophilia A ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Thrombin Generation Assay ◽  
Equity Ownership ◽  
Target Binding

The treatment of hemophilia A (HA) is primarily based on replacement of factor VIII (FVIII), and in people with HA with inhibitors (HAwI) on the use of by-passing agents. Recently, a FVIII mimetic bispecific antibody emicizumab (Hemlibra®) was approved for treatment of HA and HAwI, offering a subcutaneous, prophylactic treatment opportunity with potential for significantly reducing the treatment burden. We describe the development and pre-clinical characterization of Mim8, a novel, next-generation FVIII mimetic human bispecific antibody. Mim8 is a highly potent molecule bridging factor IXa (FIXa) and factor X (FX) in development for subcutaneous treatment of people with HA and HAwI. Development of Mim8 utilized the Duobody® platform to initially screen for compatible anti-FIXa and anti-FX antibodies followed by several iterations of systematic mutational optimization. In total, more than 30,000 bispecific antibodies were analyzed. The optimization process aimed for efficient Mim8-mediated activation of FX by FIXa in the presence of procoagulant membrane, low target binding in solution, low immunogenicity risk, and for desirable biophysical parameters such as low viscosity. In vitro characterization demonstrated that Mim8 efficiently localizes FIXa and FX to the phospholipid surface and enhances FXa activation. The monovalent anti-FIXa arm alone stimulates the proteolytic activity of FIXa in the range of 15,000-fold and is an important contributor to the activity of the bispecific antibody. The dissociation constants (Kd) of Mim8 for FIXa and FX is in the micromolar range, minimizing target binding in the blood. Using thrombin generation assay in congenital HA plasma and thrombelastography (TEG) in whole blood from healthy volunteers spiked with anti-FVIII antibodies, Mim8 was capable of normalizing thrombin generation and blood clot formation, respectively, with approximately 15 times greater potency than emicizumab (Figure 1). A similar potency improvement was demonstrated in a tail vein transection bleeding model in FVIII-deficient mice co-dosed with human FIX and FX to circumvent lack of Mim8 cross reactivity to murine FIX and FX. The terminal half-life of Mim8 was estimated to 14 days (range 10-17 days) in cynomolgus monkeys and the subcutaneous bioavailability to 97%. In conclusion, Mim8 is a novel, next-generation FVIII mimetic bispecific antibody with anti-FIXa and anti-FX arms that potently stimulates FX activation resulting in efficacious haemostasis in vitro and in vivo. Mim8 has a high potency allowing for administration of small volumes in a pen device, good PK parameters, minimal target binding in the blood, and good biophysical properties. Collectively, these properties support clinical development of Mim8 as a potentially improved next-generation FVIII-mimetic prophylactic treatment option for persons with hemophilia A regardless of inhibitor status. Figure 1: Left: FXI-triggered thrombin generation assay in congenital HA plasma (mean and SD of n = 5). Right: thromboelastography in whole blood from healthy donors spiked with polyclonal anti-FVIII antibody (mean and SD of n = 3). Coagulation was triggered with low concentration (∼30 fM) of tissue factor (Innovin® 1:200,000). Shaded areas: standard deviation of controls. Blue circles: Mim8. Grey squares: a sequence identical analogue (SIA) to emicizumab (comparable data were obtained with a commercially available batch of Hemlibra®). Disclosures Kjellev: Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership. Østergaard:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Greisen:Novo Nordisk A/S: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Hermit:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Thorn:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Hansen:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Zhou:Novo Nordisk A/S: Equity Ownership, Other: Previous employment, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Bjelke:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Kjalke:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Honoraria. Lund:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Holm:Novo Nordisk A/S: Equity Ownership, Other: Previous employment. Ley:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership. Elenius:Novo Nordisk A/S: Equity Ownership, Other: Previous employment; Leo Pharma A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thygesen:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Loftager:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rasch:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Lorenzen:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Gandhi:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Lamberth:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Egebjerg:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Lund:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership. Henriksen:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Rahbek-Nielsen:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Yang:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties: Patents. Hilden:Novo Nordisk A/S: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties.

Evaluation of Enhanced in Vitro Plasma Stability of a Novel Long Acting Recombinant FVIIIFc-VWF-XTEN Fusion Protein

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 2279-2279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekta Seth Chhabra ◽  
Nancy Moore ◽  
Chris Furcht ◽  
Amy M Holthaus ◽  
Jiayun Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Clotting Factor ◽  
Plasma Stability ◽  
Single Chain ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Equity Ownership

Abstract INTRODUCTION More than 95% of circulating clotting factor VIII (FVIII) exists in a non-covalent complex with von Willebrand Factor (VWF). While VWF stabilizes and protects FVIII from its clearance pathways, it also subjects FVIII to VWF-mediated clearance. Thus, interaction with VWF imposes a limitation on the extent of FVIII half-life extension achieved by current technologies (Fc fusion, PEGylation etc.). Recombinant FVIIIFc-VWF-XTEN (rFVIIIFc-VWF-XTEN) is a novel fusion protein, consisting of the FVIII binding D'D3 domains of VWF fused to a single chain rFVIIIFc (scFVIIIFc). Appending the domains of VWF to FVIII provides the protection and stability of endogenous VWF, while avoiding the limitation imposed by VWF clearance. Besides D'D3 domains, it also contains two XTEN linkers. XTEN is an unstructured polypeptide consisting of six amino acids repeats (Gly, Ala, Pro, Glu, Ser, Thr). Fusion of XTEN to a protein reduces the rate of clearance and degradation of the fusion protein. In rFVIIIFc-VWF-XTEN, one XTEN linker replaces the B-domain of FVIII and other is attached to the D'D3 domains. In preclinical studies, this protein has shown >4-fold prolonged half-life and similar in vivo acute efficacy compared to rFVIII. In the current study, we examined the impact of various modifications on the in vitro plasma stability of rFVIIIFc-VWF-XTEN protein. MATERIALS AND METHODS rFVIIIFc-VWF-XTEN is a fusion protein which is expressed as a dual chain molecule. One chain expresses the D'D3 domains linked to a Fc monomer through an XTEN linker. This polypeptide is co-expressed with a single chain rFVIIIFc monomer to generate a dimer, via the disulfide-bond between the Fc domains. To assess the in vitro plasma stability, fusion proteins were expressed in HEK293 cells, purified and incubated with plasma from FVIII KO (Hem A) or FVIII/VWF DKO mice, for various time periods at 37 degree centigrade. After the desired incubation time, plasma stability of the recombinant proteins was determined by FVIII chromogenic activity assay. Results and Conclusions rFVIIIFc-VWF-XTEN fusion protein showed significantly enhanced in vitro plasma stability compared to rFVIII. In FVIII KO plasma, rFVIII started losing activity by 4 hours, and by 24 hours it lost more than 80% of its activity. The decline in activity was more pronounced and rapid when rFVIII was incubated with FVIII/VWF DKO plasma, mainly due to the absence of protection provided by VWF. Conversely, in the case of rFVIIIFc-VWF-XTEN, there was no significant drop in activity even after 6 hours (in both FVIII KO and DKO plasma). By 24 hours, only 10-15% activity reduction was observed in FVIII KO plasma and about a 35% decrease in DKO plasma. Further studies were conducted to evaluate various parameters which contributed to the improved stability of this fusion protein. Our results suggest that there are multiple factors which contribute to the overall stability of rFVIII-VWF-XTEN protein. These include: presence of covalently attached D'D3 domains, enhanced stability of single chain FVIII isoform used in the fusion protein and presence of the XTEN linker in the B-domain of FVIII. These data suggest that superior plasma stability of this novel fusion protein might be a contributing factor to its prolonged in vivo half-life and efficacy. Disclosures Seth Chhabra: Biogen: Employment, Equity Ownership. Moore:Biogen: Employment, Equity Ownership. Furcht:Biogen: Employment, Equity Ownership. Holthaus:Biogen: Employment. Liu:Biogen: Employment, Equity Ownership. Liu:Biogen: Employment, Equity Ownership. Schellenberger:Amunix Operating Inc: Employment. Kulman:Biogen: Employment. Salas:Biogen: Employment, Equity Ownership. Peters:Biogen: Employment.

Half-Life of Platelet Factor 4 (PF-4) in Plasma and Platelets from Macaca Mulatta

1977 ◽  
Vol 37 (01) ◽  
pp. 073-080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knut Gjesdal ◽  
Duncan S. Pepper
Keyword(s):  
Macaca Mulatta ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Human Platelet ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Platelet Factor 4 ◽  
Active Protein ◽  
Platelet Factor ◽  
Membrane Bound

SummaryHuman platelet factor 4 (PF-4) showed a reaction of complete identity with PF-4 from Macaca mulatta when tested against rabbit anti-human-PF-4. Such immunoglobulin was used for quantitative precipitation of in vivo labelled PF-4 in monkey serum. The results suggest that the active protein had an intra-platelet half-life of about 21 hours. In vitro 125I-labelled human PF-4 was injected intravenously into two monkeys and isolated by immuno-precipita-tion from platelet-poor plasma and from platelets disrupted after gel-filtration. Plasma PF-4 was found to have a half-life of 7 to 11 hours. Some of the labelled PF-4 was associated with platelets and this fraction had a rapid initial disappearance rate and a subsequent half-life close to that of plasma PF-4. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that granular PF-4 belongs to a separate compartment, whereas membrane-bound PF-4 and plasma PF-4 may interchange.

scholarly journals Highly Differentiated Anti-CD47 Antibody, AO-176, Potently Inhibits Hematologic Malignancies Alone and in Combination

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1844-1844
Author(s):  
John Richards ◽  
Myriam N Bouchlaka ◽  
Robyn J Puro ◽  
Ben J Capoccia ◽  
Ronald R Hiebsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Tumor Growth Inhibition ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Equity Ownership

AO-176 is a highly differentiated, humanized anti-CD47 IgG2 antibody that is unique among agents in this class of checkpoint inhibitors. AO-176 works by blocking the "don't eat me" signal, the standard mechanism of anti-CD47 antibodies, but also by directly killing tumor cells. Importantly, AO-176 binds preferentially to tumor cells, compared to normal cells, and binds even more potently to tumors in their acidic microenvironment (low pH). Hematological neoplasms are the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancers in both men and women and account for approximately 10% of all cancers. Here we describe AO-176, a highly differentiated anti-CD47 antibody that potently targets hematologic cancers in vitro and in vivo. As a single agent, AO-176 not only promotes phagocytosis (15-45%, EC50 = 0.33-4.1 µg/ml) of hematologic tumor cell lines (acute myeloid leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and T cell leukemia) but also directly targets and kills tumor cells (18-46% Annexin V positivity, EC50 = 0.63-10 µg/ml) in a non-ADCC manner. In combination with agents targeting CD20 (rituximab) or CD38 (daratumumab), AO-176 mediates enhanced phagocytosis of lymphoma and multiple myeloma cell lines, respectively. In vivo, AO-176 mediates potent monotherapy tumor growth inhibition of hematologic tumors including Raji B cell lymphoma and RPMI-8226 multiple myeloma xenograft models in a dose-dependent manner. Concomitant with tumor growth inhibition, immune cell infiltrates were observed with elevated numbers of macrophage and dendritic cells, along with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in AO-176 treated animals. When combined with bortezomib, AO-176 was able to elicit complete tumor regression (100% CR in 10/10 animals treated with either 10 or 25 mg/kg AO-176 + 1 mg/kg bortezomib) with no detectable tumor out to 100 days at study termination. Overall survival was also greatly improved following combination therapy compared to animals treated with bortezomib or AO-176 alone. These data show that AO-176 exhibits promising monotherapy and combination therapy activity, both in vitro and in vivo, against hematologic cancers. These findings also add to the previously reported anti-tumor efficacy exhibited by AO-176 in solid tumor xenografts representing ovarian, gastric and breast cancer. With AO-176's highly differentiated MOA and binding characteristics, it may have the potential to improve upon the safety and efficacy profiles relative to other agents in this class. AO-176 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT03834948) for the treatment of patients with select solid tumors. Disclosures Richards: Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Salary. Bouchlaka:Arch Oncology Inc.: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Puro:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Capoccia:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hiebsch:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Donio:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wilson:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chakraborty:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sung:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Pereira:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.

In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of Full-Length rFVIII Modified with PEG Via Coupling to Primary Amino Groups.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 3147-3147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter L. Turecek ◽  
Jürgen Siekmann ◽  
Herbert Gritsch ◽  
Katalin Váradi ◽  
Rafi-Uddin Ahmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Half Life ◽  
Hemophilia A ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Exchange Chromatography ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Thrombin Inhibitor ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Knock Out Mice

Abstract Chemical modification of recombinant therapeutic proteins with PEG has been shown to enhance the biological half-life. Here we assess the effect of PEGylation on FVIII. Full-length rFVIII bulk drug substance from protein-free fermentation (Advate process, Baxter) was conditioned into a buffer suitable for coupling to polyethylene glycol succinimidyl succinate (linear PEG, 5 kDa PEG chain length). PEG was covalently bound by amine coupling preferentially to lysine residues of FVIII at neutral pH. PEG was removed by ion-exchange chromatography and the PEG-FVIII derivative was concentrated by ultra-diafiltration. The conjugates thus obtained retained about 30–40% of the activity of non-modified rFVIII. The specific activity decreased with the amount of PEG linked to the FVIII molecule. In SDS-PAGE and immunoblot studies PEGylated rFVIII showed a band pattern similar to unmodified FVIII with full-length, heavy chain fragments of 180 kDa and 120 kDa and the light chain fragment of 80 kDa. PEGylation also occurred to a high extent in the B domain of FVIII. All bands appeared broadened due to the attachment of polymeric PEG. The maintenance of functionality of FVIII was demonstrated by its potential to be activated and inactivated by thrombin. In the assay PEGylated and unmodified FVIII were incubated with 1 nM thrombin. Sub-samples were drawn at intervals up to 40 minutes and added to a mixture of FIXa, FX, phospholipid vesicles and Ca2+ containing a thrombin inhibitor. After 3 minutes incubation at 37°C the amount of activated FX (FXa) was measured using a FXa-specific chromogenic substrate. Unmodified rFVIII showed a typical picture of an immediate increase in FXa activity and a subsequent decline with no further FXa generation after 15 minutes. PEGylated rFVIII was activated to the same extent as unmodified FVIII but the decay in FXa generation was slower and did not reach the zero level, even 40 minutes after incubation. The formation of the typical thrombin cleavage fragments, with unmodified as well as PEGylated rFVIII, was demonstrated in a Western blot analysis. The slower inactivation by thrombin was also seen there. The pharmacokinetic properties of PEGylated rFVIII compared with rFVIII were investigated in hemophilia A knock-out mice. Both preparations were applied at a dose of 200 IU rFVIII/kg and groups of mice (n=5) were exsanguinated at several time points up to 24 hours. Terminal half-life for PEGylated rFVIII was calculated at 4.9 hours compared with 1.9 hours for unmodified rFVIII in hemophilia A knock-out mice. AUC was approximately doubled. These results indicate that rFVIII can be biochemically modified with PEG whilst at least partly retaining its major functions, but at the same time prolonging its survival in the circulation of hemophilic mice.

Differential Effects of Milatuzumab On Human Antigen-Presenting Cells in Comparison to Malignant B Cells.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2744-2744
Author(s):  
Xiaochuan Chen ◽  
Rhona Stein ◽  
Chien-Hsing Chang ◽  
David M. Goldenberg
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Hairy Cell ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Cross Presentation ◽  
Equity Ownership ◽  
Antigen Presenting

Abstract Abstract 2744 Poster Board II-720 Introduction: The humanized anti-CD74 monoclonal antibody (mAb), milatuzumab, is in clinical evaluation as a therapeutic mAb for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma after preclinical evidence of activity in these tumor types. In addition to its expression in malignant cells, CD74 is also expressed in normal B cells, monocytes, macrophages, Langerhans cells, follicular and blood dendritic cells. A question therefore arises whether milatuzumab is toxic to or affects the function of these immune cells. This has important implications, not only for safe therapeutic use of this mAb, but also for its potential application as a novel delivery modality for in-vivo targeted vaccination. Methods: We assessed the binding profiles and functional effects of milatuzumab on human antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets. Studies on the effect of milatuzumab on antigen presentation and cross-presentation are included. In addition, binding and cytotoxicity on a panel of leukemia/lymphoma cell lines and CLL patient cells were tested to demonstrate the range of malignancies that can be treated with this mAb. Results: Milatuzumab bound efficiently to different subsets of blood dendritic cells, including BDCA-1+ myeloid DCs (MDC1), BDCA-2+ plasmacytoid DCs (PDC), BDCA-3+ myeloid DCs (MDC2), B lymphocytes, monocytes, and immature DCs derived from human monocytes in vitro, but not LPS-matured DCs, which correlated well with their CD74 expression levels. In the malignant B-cells tested, milatuzumab bound to the surface of 2/3 AML, 2/2 mantle cell (MCL), 4/4 ALL, 1/1 hairy cell leukemia, 2/2 CLL, 7/7 NHL, and 5/6 multiple myeloma cell lines, and cells of 4/6 CLL patient specimens. Significant cytotoxicity (P<0.05) was observed in 2/2 MCL, 2/2 CLL, 3/4 ALL, 1/1 hairy cell, 2/2 NHL, and 2/2 MM cell lines, and 3/4 CD74-positive CLL patient cells, but not in the AML cell lines following incubation with milatuzumab. In contrast, milatuzumab had minimal effects on the viability of DCs or B cells that normally express CD74. The DC maturation and DC-mediated T-cell functions were not altered by milatuzumab treatment, which include DC-induced T-cell proliferation, CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg expansion, and CD4+ naïve T-cell polarization. Moreover, milatuzumab had little effect on CMV-specific CD8- and CD8+ T cell interferon-g responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated in vitro with CMV pp65 peptides or protein, suggesting that milatuzumab does not influence antigen presentation or cross-presentation. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that milatuzumab is a highly specific therapeutic mAb against B-cell malignancies with potentially minimal side effects. It also suggests that milatuzumab may be a promising novel delivery mAb for in vivo targeted vaccinations, given its efficient binding, but lack of cytotoxicity and functional disruption on CD74-expressing normal APCs. (Supported in part by NIH grant PO1-CA103985.) Disclosures: Chang: Immunomedics Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Goldenberg:Immunomedics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties.

Optimized Fully-Synthetic Salicylamide Heparin Antagonists Have Greater Efficacy Versus LMWHs and Display Improved Hemodynamic Responses as Compared to Protamine

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 191-191
Author(s):  
Richard W. Scott ◽  
Michael J. Costanzo ◽  
Katie B. Freeman ◽  
Robert W. Kavash ◽  
Trevor M. Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Factor Xa ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Hemodynamic Effects ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Human Liver Cell ◽  
Equity Ownership

Abstract Abstract 191 A series of salicylamides, fully synthetic cationic foldamers designed to disrupt the binding of the pentasaccharide unit of heparin to antithrombin III, were found to be potent neutralizers of the activity of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs). A compound from this series, PMX-60056, is currently in human clinical trials for neutralization of UFH and LMWHs. PMX-60056 potently neutralizes UFH and LMWHs but is not as efficacious versus fondaparinux (FPX). The goal of the present research was to 1) identify back-up compounds to optimize activity against the LMWHs and FPX and 2) mitigate the hemodynamic effects commonly associated with protamine and observed clinically with PMX-60056 in the absence of heparin. Compounds were first tested for their ability to neutralize the anticoagulant activity of enoxaparin (ENX), tinzaparin or FPX in an in vitro amidolytic assay for factor Xa activity. While only minor improvements were observed in the neutralization of ENX and tinzaparin, compounds were identified which had 6 to 40 fold increase in activity against FPX (EC50s of 0.09 – 0.58 uM) in comparison to PMX-60056 (EC50 3.64 uM). Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) assays demonstrated that these compounds maintained activity against heparin in a plasma based clotting assay. Rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) was used to show that these compounds are able to neutralize heparin and ENX in human whole blood, restoring normal coagulation profiles. As an initial test for safety, compounds were tested in hemolysis and cytotoxicity assays using isolated human erythrocytes, a transformed human liver cell line (HepG2 cells) and a mouse fibroblast cell line (NIH3T3). Lead back-up compounds were not cytotoxic (or hemolytic) at >100 fold concentrations over their EC50 concentrations in the anti-coagulation assays, indicating a high selectivity index between toxicity and efficacy. Five compounds were selected for further studies based on their in vitro profiles. The in vivo efficacy of these compounds was evaluated in a rat coagulation model for neutralization of ENX (2 mg/kg). Three minutes following IV dosing with ENX, either saline, protamine or one of the five salicylamide test compounds was administered. Blood was collected before dosing with ENX, and at 1, 3, 10, and 60 min after dosing, for aPTT and factor Xa analysis. Three of the five salicylamides (PMX640, PMX686 and PMX747) were more efficacious than protamine; with PMX640 and PMX686 neutralizing 91 – 100% and PMX747 neutralizing 78–100% of the ENX anti-factor Xa activity over the entire 60 minute time course. In a second in vivo model, PMX747 and PMX686 (2 mg/kg) completely neutralized the prolonged bleeding times in a rat tail bleeding model caused by treatment with 2 mg/kg ENX. Significantly, with protamine at a 5 mg/kg dosage, only partial restoration was obtained. Protamine routinely causes a transient decrease in blood pressure upon dosing, and hemodynamic effects have also been observed with PMX-60056 in human subjects in the absence of heparin. To address this issue, structural features that have successfully reduced hemodynamic liabilities in other cationic compounds were incorporated into the design of the back-up salicylamides. The effect of compounds on blood pressure and heart rate was measured via arterial catheters in rats following IV administration of protamine, PMX-60056, or test agents. As expected, in rats treated with a low dose of UFH (50 u/kg) and high dosages of antagonist, both protamine and PMX-60056 displayed transient or prolonged blood pressure reductions at 8 and 16 mg/kg, respectively. However, the lead back-up salicylamides, PMX640, PMX686 and PMX747 had little to no effect on blood pressure at these same dosages. In conclusion, we have discovered compounds in the salicylamide series that have greater efficacy versus LMWHs and that have significantly reduced hemodynamic liabilities in rats as compared to protamine. Furthermore, these compounds potently neutralize FPX activity in vitro; exceeding the activity of protamine and our clinical lead salicylamide, PMX-60056, by up to 40 fold. Thus we have been able to optimize the salicylamide series, identifying compounds that offer the potential to greatly improve upon the current clinical heparin antagonist, protamine, in respect to both activity against LMWHs and side effect profile. Disclosures: Scott: PolyMedix Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Costanzo:PolyMedix Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Freeman:PolyMedix Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kavash:PolyMedix Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Young:PolyMedix, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. DeGrado:PolyMedix, Inc.: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Jeske:PolyMedix, Inc.: Research Funding.

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