Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Seventh Annual
Rapid Methods to Assess Quality & Stability of Biologics
Improving and Accelerating Prediction and Screening
August 12-13, 2019
The seventh annual Rapid Methods to Assess Quality & Stability of Biologics conference will bring together experts in analytical and formulation development to discuss regulatory expectations, prediction, measurement and manipulation for protein stability
and instabilities in early and late-stage development. The conference will feature case studies, unpublished work on new methods and tools employed in real time, and accelerated stability studies for proteins, cell and gene therapy products, high-throughput
analytics, multi-attribute methods, biophysical methods, HOS, use of DOE and QbD.
Final Agenda
Monday, August 12
7:30 am Short Course Registration Open and Morning Coffee
11:00 Main Conference Registration Open
12:30 pm Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Dean Ripple, PhD, Leader, Bioprocess Measurements Group, NIST
12:40 KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Formulation Development for Biosimilar
Satish K. Singh, PhD,
Head, Sterile Product Technology, Moderna Therapeutics
Development of the formulation for biosimilars requires a combination of intellectual property, state-of-the-art technical considerations as well as strategic considerations around product development. Some of these aspects will be highlighted in this
presentation using case studies.
1:10 Use of Affinity Capture - Self Interaction Nanoparticle Spectroscopy (AC-SINS) for Clone Ranking and Formulation Screen During Antibody Early Discovery
Tingwan Sun, PhD, Senior
Scientist, Protein Analytics, Adimab LLC
Self-association of antibodies on gold nanoparticles, including SINS and AC-SINS, has been broadly used for clone ranking and lead selection at the early stage of antibody discovery. However, it has quite a limited use in formulation screening due to
incompatibility of commonly used formulation buffer excipients, such as histidine. Here, we report a modified gold nanoparticle assay with improved buffer pH, salts and detergents compatibility, enabling high throughput formulation screening.
1:40 Developing a Bio-Layer Interferometry Based Platform for Formulation Screening
Subhashchandra
Naik, PhD, Senior Scientist, Reform Biologics
Formulating monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to obtain meaningful shelf-life is an iterative process using multiple excipients and conditions. A bio-layer interferometry (BLI) platform shortens this process to improve formulation screening throughput.
A proprietary chaperonin biosensor can rapidly screen mAb stability while a BLI based ELISA can be used to test the functional efficacy with mAbs biological target. The formulation conditions were further validated using traditional orthogonal
and with extended stability studies.
2:10 Refreshment Break
2:30 High Throughput Approaches to Enable Robust Early Stage Formulation Development
Laura
Tanenbaum, PhD, Scientist, BioTherapeutics Drug Product Development, Janssen R&D
This talk presents a case study in which rapid formulation screening strategies were utilized for accelerated New Molecular Entity (NME) advancement. Under relevant bioprocessing stress conditions (temperature, freeze-thaw, agitation, and mental stress),
formulations were evaluated using multiple high throughput analytical tools to progress selected formulations through additional long-term evaluation. This approach enables a detailed understanding of protein stability at an early stage and limits
the need for reformulation throughout the product lifecycle.
3:00 Predicting Physiochemical Stability of New ADCs Modalities from Discovery to Development
Kara Huang, PhD, Senior Scientist, Drug Product Development, AbbVie
Anticipating physiochemical stability issues of ADCs is important for both assessing compound developability during discovery and setting product formulation and shelf-life during development. These potential liabilities can be discovered using a
combination of forced degradation studies and rapid/sensitive assays. We present an improved approach to predict the overall ADC stability via characterization of the linker-drug component and utilization of computational models to simulate long
term storage conditions.
3:30 Are Particulates Hiding in Your
Formulation?
Renee Tobias, Senior Product
Manager, Marketing, Halo Labs
Come see how the HORIZON system from Halo Labs uses Backgrounded Membrane Imaging (BMI) to measure subvisible particles, including translucent protein aggregates to help predict protein drug stability during early stage formulation development. The
measurement is fully automated (up to 96 samples) and uses 1/10th the volume of other techniques.
3:45 Session Break
3:55 Plenary Keynote Session View details
5:00 Grand Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
6:30 End of Day
Tuesday, August 13
7:30 am Registration Open and Morning Coffee
7:55 Chairperson’s Remarks
Subhashchandra Naik, PhD, Senior Scientist, Reform Biologics
8:00 Protein Physical Stability: A Pre-Formulation Screening Based on Colloidal and Configurational Biophysical Properties
Cesar Calero-Rubio, PhD, Scientist, Biologics Drug Product Development, Sanofi
Protein self-interactions and other biophysical properties are hypothesized to be one of the primary contributors to protein aggregation under long-term storage conditions. Relationship between biophysical properties and protein aggregation is
yet to be generalized across a broad selection of mAbs and formulation buffers. We have revised the historical hypothesis regarding protein physical stability and biophysical properties by combining statistical analysis of the solution behavior
of several mAbs mimicking a pre-formulation workflow.
8:30 Impact of Cavitation, High Shear Stress and Air/Liquid Interfaces on Protein Aggregation
Mark Dürkop, PhD, Project Lead, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) and CEO of Novasign
Shear associated protein aggregation is described since the early days of bioprocessing. However, within this work generated isolated shear rates (> 108 s-1) did not
cause any of the 9 tested proteins to aggregate. On the contrary, when shear occurred together with cavitation or air/liquid interfaces protein aggregation was found. Hence, shear cannot be considered as a trigger for protein aggregation during
up- and downstream processes.
9:00 New USP General Chapter <1049.1> Design of Stability Studies for Biotechnology Product Development and Lifecycle Management
Mark Skasko, Ph.D, Science & Standards Liaison, Global Biologics, US Pharmacopeia
This presentation will provide an overview of the new USP General Chapter <1049.1> Design of Stability Studies for Biotechnology Product Development and Lifecycle Management. The intent of this chapter is to provide detail regarding stability
studies necessary for expiry setting, product characterization, market registration, and patient/physician use. The chapter addresses the overall strategy, lifecycle management, and design of stability studies through all stages of the product
lifecycle.
9:30 Comparative Analysis of Parental with Their Bispecific for The Evaluation of Aggregation and Stability Under Thermal Stress
Belinda Pastrana, CEO, Protein Dynamic Solutions
Formulations must be optimized to enhance the stability of therapeutic proteins. Expedited formulation development has been demonstrated using the ProteinMentor platform to compare an array of 20 formulations of varying concentration, pH and
excipients to determine the best overall conditions for a given biologic.
9:45 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
10:30 N-glycan Characterization in the Development of mAbs and Fusion Proteins
Elisabeth
Kast, PhD, Senior Scientist, Protein Analytics, AbbVie
N-glycans are often an important critical quality attribute for biologics and should be monitored and assessed during development. Implementation and use of robust, reliable and informative methods for monitoring glycosylation in biologics development
will be discussed.
11:00 Use of 2D NMR based HOS Fingerprinting to Probe Molecular Basis of Viscosity of Monoclonal Antibodies
Arun Alphonse Ignatius, PhD, Principal Scientist, Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Biotherapeutics, Pfizer, Inc.
2D NMR based higher-order structure fingerprinting of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) provides a direct readout of its solution behavior at an atomic resolution. In this presentation, HOS fingerprints of few mAbs of varying viscosity
under a set of solution conditions will be discussed. Such fingerprinting at dilute concentrations can be adopted at early stages of formulation development to predict high concentration solution behavior and to screen for viscosity-reducing
excipients.
11:30 Relationship Between Physicochemical and Biological Properties with Higher Order Structure of Monoclonal Antibodies
Haripada
Maity, PhD, Director, Biologics Formulation Development, Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Forced degradation studies are important to evaluate Critical Quality Attributes and to understand the structure-function relationship of proteins. Oxidation is one of the common chemical instabilities a protein can experience at multiple stages
of its development. This presentation will primarily discuss speaker’s two recently published papers on chemical oxidation and photostabilty of a monoclonal antibody. Specifically, the effects of different oxidizing agents on HOS, conformational,
physical and chemical stability, and biological properties will be discussed.
12:00 pm Blast through Particle ID
with the New Hound
Robin Sweeney, PhD, Product
Manager, Marketing, Unchained Labs
Particles muck up drug quality, cause headaches throughout development, and can shut down production. The new Hound couples Raman 785 nm, Raman 532 nm, and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) with automated microscopy to count and ID particles.
We will discuss the updated software and hardware features that make Hound an indispensable tool for particle contaminant root cause investigation or other applications that may require characterization of particle size and identification.
12:30 Luncheon Presentation: Thermal Unfolding as a Tool
To Accelerate the Protein Purification Process
Gabriel Birrane, PhD, Staff
Scientist I, Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical
School
Starting with sample of questionable quality for a purification leads to irreproducible results. Researchers deserve a way to reliably and quickly check protein quality early on in their processes. We’ll discuss a platform that rapidly measures
thermal unfolding of a protein. We are able to eliminate the need to run SDS-PAGE. We’ll share how we use the results to monitor protein similarity, stability and functionality. Also, we’re able to define favorable and reproducible
crystallization conditions.
1:15 Cake Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
1:55 Chairperson’s Remarks
Haripada Maity, PhD, Director/Principal Investigator, Bioverativ, A Sanofi Company
2:00 Qualification and Validation Methods for New Particle Counting Instruments
Dean Ripple, PhD,
Leader, Bioprocess Measurements Group, NIST
The increased use of new types of particle counting instruments, such as flow imaging, has raised questions on how these instruments may be qualified and measurement methods validated. I will discuss the use of standards and a variety of independent
measurements and data analysis methods that can address these needs, over a size range from 100 nm to visible.
2:30 Lights-Out Manufacturing? What Do We Know About Light Spectrum and its Impact on Drug Product Manufacturing
Austin Gallegos, BS, R&D Associate, Dosage Form Design and Development, AstraZeneca
This presentation will discuss our understanding of cool white light (CWL) spectrum, our current approach on accessing CWL impact on protein degradation, and the correlation between lab light stress studies and actual DP manufacturing.
3:00 Understanding and Mitigating Risk Due to Naturally Occurring Aggregates in Protein Based Formulations
Michael
Swanson, Senior Scientist, Merck
Aggregated therapeutic antibodies have the potential to induce an immune response. Elucidation of the mechanism of responses to aggregated antibodies could mitigate the immunogenic risk. In this presentation, we will discuss understanding and
mitigating risk due to naturally occurring aggregates in protein formulations.
3:30 Backgrounded Membrane Imaging (BMI) for High-Throughput Subvisible Particle Characterization During Biopharmaceutical Drug Product Development
Constanze
Helbig, PhD, Postdoctoral Scientist, Coriolis Pharma Research GmbH
We scientifically evaluated BMI (sizing and counting accuracy, working range, impact of refractive index, interferences by silicone oil droplets), and compared BMI to state-of-the-art dynamic image analysis (DIA). For both techniques, similar
upper concentration limits were found. For non-silicone oil particles, total particle concentrations (ECD≥2 µm) agreed well but size distributions differed. For BMI, removal of silicone oil droplets throughout sample processing and
robustness against refractive index changes were demonstrated.
4:00 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Commonwealth Hall)
4:15 - 4:30 Stretch Break
4:45 Breakout Discussions
This session provides the opportunity to discuss a focused topic with peers from around the world in an open, collegial setting. Select from the list of topics available and join the moderated discussion to share ideas, gain insights, establish
collaborations or commiserate about persistent challenges.
5:45 End of Conference
Cambridge
6:00-830 Recommended Dinner Short Course*
SC7: Protein Aggregation: Mechanism, Characterization and Consequences
Instructors:
Thomas Laue, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire
Matthew Brown, PhD, Applications Manager, Bioscience, Malvern PANalytical
Protein aggregation is recognized by regulatory agencies and the biopharmaceutical industry as a key quality attribute of biotherapeutics. Various aggregates hold the potential for adversely impacting production and patients in a variety of ways.
This in-depth course reviews the origins and consequences of aggregation in biotherapeutics, and then examines strategies for predicting and quantifying aggregation in biopharmaceuticals. It benefits scientists engaged in the development,
production, analytical characterization and approval of biotherapeutics and who require a good working knowledge of protein aggregation.
Waterfront 1C
SC9: Impact of Impurities on Stability of Biologics
Instructors:
Diane Paskiet, MS, Director of Scientific Affairs, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Katherine E. Bowers, PhD, Principal Scientist, Group Leader, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies
Impurities in protein therapeutics can originate from a variety of unexpected sources. As the protein molecule is taken through the upstream/downstream processes, final product manufacturing (fill/finish) and even during patient delivery, there
is a myriad of potential “hidden” impurities that can have an impact to the safety and efficacy of the bio-therapeutic. This course aims to answer the questions of what and where are the greatest risks for biologic impurities and
how can we study the impact of these impurities on the protein molecule. Our mission is to collectively discuss how to identify, evaluate and mitigate impurity risks from early development and throughout the product life cycle.