Characterization of high-molecular weight by-products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2+1 heterodimeric antibody

The development of increasingly complex antibody formats, such as bispecifics, can lead to the formation of increasingly complex high- and low-molecular-weight by-products. Here, we focus on the characterization of high molecular weight species (HMWs) representing the highest complexity of size vari...

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Main Authors: Dario A. T. Cramer, Vojtech Franc, Anna-Katharina Heidenreich, Michaela Hook, Mahdi Adibzadeh, Dietmar Reusch, Albert J. R. Heck, Markus Haberger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:mAbs
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420862.2023.2175312
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author Dario A. T. Cramer
Vojtech Franc
Anna-Katharina Heidenreich
Michaela Hook
Mahdi Adibzadeh
Dietmar Reusch
Albert J. R. Heck
Markus Haberger
author_facet Dario A. T. Cramer
Vojtech Franc
Anna-Katharina Heidenreich
Michaela Hook
Mahdi Adibzadeh
Dietmar Reusch
Albert J. R. Heck
Markus Haberger
author_sort Dario A. T. Cramer
collection DOAJ
description The development of increasingly complex antibody formats, such as bispecifics, can lead to the formation of increasingly complex high- and low-molecular-weight by-products. Here, we focus on the characterization of high molecular weight species (HMWs) representing the highest complexity of size variants. Standard methods used for product release, such as size exclusion chromatography (SEC), can separate HMW by-products from the main product, but cannot distinguish smaller changes in mass. Here, for the identification of the diverse and complex HMW variants of a trivalent bispecific CrossMAb antibody, offline fractionation, as well as production of HMW by-products combined with comprehensive analytical testing, was applied. Furthermore, HMW variants were analyzed regarding their chemical binding nature and tested in functional assays regarding changes in potency of the variants. Changes in potency were explained by detailed characterization using mass photometry, SDS-PAGE analysis, native mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to SEC and bottom-up proteomics. We identified a major portion of the HMW by-products to be non-covalently linked, leading to dissociation and changes in activity. We also identified and localized high heterogeneity of a by-product of concern and applied a CD3 affinity column coupled to native MS to annotate unexpected by-products. We present here a multi-method approach for the characterization of complex HMW by-products. A better understanding of these by-products is beneficial to guide analytical method development and proper specification setting for therapeutic bispecific antibodies to ensure constant efficacy and patient safety of the product through the assessment of by-products.
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spelling doaj-art-4977507ea3b54d6db73e493e7b387a532025-08-20T02:47:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupmAbs1942-08621942-08702023-12-0115110.1080/19420862.2023.2175312Characterization of high-molecular weight by-products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2+1 heterodimeric antibodyDario A. T. Cramer0Vojtech Franc1Anna-Katharina Heidenreich2Michaela Hook3Mahdi Adibzadeh4Dietmar Reusch5Albert J. R. Heck6Markus Haberger7Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The NetherlandsBiomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The NetherlandsPharma Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, GermanyPharma Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, GermanyPharma Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, SwitzerlandPharma Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, GermanyBiomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The NetherlandsPharma Technical Development, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, GermanyThe development of increasingly complex antibody formats, such as bispecifics, can lead to the formation of increasingly complex high- and low-molecular-weight by-products. Here, we focus on the characterization of high molecular weight species (HMWs) representing the highest complexity of size variants. Standard methods used for product release, such as size exclusion chromatography (SEC), can separate HMW by-products from the main product, but cannot distinguish smaller changes in mass. Here, for the identification of the diverse and complex HMW variants of a trivalent bispecific CrossMAb antibody, offline fractionation, as well as production of HMW by-products combined with comprehensive analytical testing, was applied. Furthermore, HMW variants were analyzed regarding their chemical binding nature and tested in functional assays regarding changes in potency of the variants. Changes in potency were explained by detailed characterization using mass photometry, SDS-PAGE analysis, native mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to SEC and bottom-up proteomics. We identified a major portion of the HMW by-products to be non-covalently linked, leading to dissociation and changes in activity. We also identified and localized high heterogeneity of a by-product of concern and applied a CD3 affinity column coupled to native MS to annotate unexpected by-products. We present here a multi-method approach for the characterization of complex HMW by-products. A better understanding of these by-products is beneficial to guide analytical method development and proper specification setting for therapeutic bispecific antibodies to ensure constant efficacy and patient safety of the product through the assessment of by-products.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420862.2023.2175312Native MSbispecific antibodiesmass photometryHMW by-products
spellingShingle Dario A. T. Cramer
Vojtech Franc
Anna-Katharina Heidenreich
Michaela Hook
Mahdi Adibzadeh
Dietmar Reusch
Albert J. R. Heck
Markus Haberger
Characterization of high-molecular weight by-products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2+1 heterodimeric antibody
mAbs
Native MS
bispecific antibodies
mass photometry
HMW by-products
title Characterization of high-molecular weight by-products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2+1 heterodimeric antibody
title_full Characterization of high-molecular weight by-products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2+1 heterodimeric antibody
title_fullStr Characterization of high-molecular weight by-products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2+1 heterodimeric antibody
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of high-molecular weight by-products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2+1 heterodimeric antibody
title_short Characterization of high-molecular weight by-products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2+1 heterodimeric antibody
title_sort characterization of high molecular weight by products in the production of a trivalent bispecific 2 1 heterodimeric antibody
topic Native MS
bispecific antibodies
mass photometry
HMW by-products
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420862.2023.2175312
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