Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 10th Annual
Immunogenicity Prediction & Control
Regulatory Perspectives, Risk Factors, and Management
October 24-25, 2018
The impact of immunogenicity on safety and efficacy, and consequent cost to the industry is well understood. Accordingly, investigators are focusing on factors that contribute to immunogenicity as well as a number of different approaches to predict immunogenicity
at the drug discovery stage. There are several major problematic areas such as gene therapy products with viral vectors, and Factor VIII for hemophilia, and efforts are being made to suppress immune responses to these products and to introduce tolerizing
and deimmunization approaches.
Final Agenda
Wednesday, October 24
1:00 pm Conference Registration (Foyer)
1:40 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Ronit Mazor, PhD, Scientist, Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering (ADPE), MedImmune, Inc.
1:45 FDA Regulatory Perspectives on Immunogenicity Risk Assessment from Phase I IND to BLA and Beyond
Steve Bowen, PhD, Team Leader, Chemist, Office of Biotechnology Products, CDER, FDA
Many factors can influence immunogenicity risk associated with biotherapeutic products including the patient population, impurity profile, post-translational modification, and homology to endogenous human proteins. A thorough immunogenicity risk assessment
early in product development that evolves throughout clinical development, licensure, and post marketing phases can help avoid costly regulatory delays. This presentation will discuss important considerations for immunogenicity risk assessment at
various stages of product development.
2:15 In Vitro Immunogenicity Assay Analytical Validation and Harmonization
Michael Pazos, PhD, Senior InvestigatorII, Bristol Myers Squibb
Immunogenicity assays are widely used pre-clinically in biologics drug development to assess immunogenicity liabilities and select development candidates. Variations in assay set ups, lack of common standard or agreed upon analytical validation make it
challenging to compare results and limit the utility of these assay. Here we will discuss analytical validation as well as cross industry work to harmonize these assays.
2:45 Aggregates and Impurities as Immunogenicity Risk Factors: Case Studies
Daniela Verthelyi, PhD, Chief, Immunology Lab, Therapeutic
Proteins, CDER, FDA
Product immunogenicity has emerged as one of the critical roadblocks in the development of biologics, complex generics and biosimilars. This talk will focus on the impact of process-related innate immune response modulating impurities and aggregates on
the milieu where the products are delivered highlighting the complex interplay of different impurities on product immunogenicity risk.
3:15 De-Immunogenicity of Humira by Removing B Cell Epitopes
Le Sun, PhD, President, CEO, AbMax Biotechnology Co.
Anti-drug antibody (ADA) was detected in 68-75% of the Plaque Psoriasis patients treated with Humira or its biosimilar. ADA leads to the loss of the efficacy of Humira. In this presentation, we will introduce a AI-powered software for the prediction of
ADA based on a.a. sequence using B-cell epitope analysis. We will also show there are strong correlations of ADA data between animal studies and human clinic trials. Finally we will present the data showing the great reduction of ADA by removing the
strong B cell epitopes in the FRs of Humira.
3:30 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Edison D)
4:10 Detection of Memory B Activity for Pre-Existing and Treatment-Induced ADA
Karen Liao, MD, Investigator, GSK Associate Fellow, Immunogenicity and Clinical
Immunology, GlaxoSmithKline
We applied a B cell ELISPOT method to evaluate memory B cell activity for pre-existing ADA and treatment-induced ADA against a domain antibody and a humanized monoclonal antibody, respectively. This novel application informs and characterizes immune memory
activity associated with ADA responses and can provide a valuable tool for immunogenicity prediction for biologics with elevated risk of ADA.
4:40 Integrated Modelling Approach to Predict Safety and Immunogenicity of Immunomodulatory Biotherapeutics
Renu Singh-Dhanikula, PhD, Senior Research Investigator,
Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics, Bristol-Myers Squibb
The presentation will show an integrated approach of using data from various in vitro assays as well as in silico predictions to assess safety and immunogenicity risk of biotherapeutics in early discovery and development. We will showcase
how modelling approach can be used to select candidates with a better safety profile. We will also expand upon challenges in understanding the impact of the disease state and inter-patient variability in the immune response, and progress that has
been made in this direction.
5:10 In vitro T-Cell Assay to Predict Immunogenicity of Biotherapeutic Products
Sivan Cohen, PhD, Scientist, BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech, Inc.
Treatment of patients with biotherapeutic protein products may result in immune responses of varying clinical relevance including development of life-threatening anti-drug antibodies (ADA) that can limit product efficacy or impact its safety. Therefore,
predicting the risk for immunogenicity of biotherapeutic products at early stages is a crucial need. This presentation will focus on in silico analyses and in vitro T-cell assay studies
to characterize the immunogenic potential of different biotherapeutic proteins and their correlation to the clinically observed outcome.
5:40 Close of Day
5:40 Dinner Short Course Registration
Recommended Dinner Short Course*
SC6: Advice on Putting Together an Integrated Summary of Immunogenicity
*Separate registration required.
Thursday, October 25
7:30 am Morning Coffee (Foyer)
7:55 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Joleen T. White, PhD, Director, Head of Project Support, NBE Drug Disposition, EMD Serono
8:00 Current Status of Applying Immunogenicity Prediction Tools in an Integrated Risk Assessment and Mitigation/Management Strategy
Bonita (Bonnie) Rup, PhD, Biopharmaceutical Consultant, Bonnie Rup Consulting
8:30 B Cell Tolerance: Implications for Therapeutic Antibodies
Jack A. Ragheb, MD, PhD, Senior Medical Fellow, Immunology, Global Patient Safety Eli Lilly & Co.
The first therapeutic antibodies were of foreign origin and elicited a brisk anti-drug antibody (ADA) response. Efforts to humanize antibodies were successful in reducing this ADA response, but the advent of fully human antibodies failed to eliminate
the ADA response. Much of the ADA response to humanized or fully human antibodies is neutralizing and thus likely anti-idiotypic. These observations are consistent with our understanding of B cell tolerance, the implications of which will be discussed.
9:00
An Integrated Approach to Managing Immunogenicity Risk And Optimum Protein Design
Emilee Knowlton, PhD, Immunology Sales Specialist, Sales, ProImmune Inc.
Integrated platforms can be used to mitigate immunogenicity risk and characterize immune responses during the drug design and development stages. ProImmune offers mutational activity mapping for optimal protein design, DC-T/T cell proliferation
assays for biologic lead selection/optimization, a Mass Spectrometry assay for characterization of antigen presentation; HLA-peptide binding assays to characterize individual epitopes & undiluted whole blood cytokine storm assays.
9:30 Problem Solving Roundtable Discussions
Wright / Banneker
Table 1: Practical Application of Immunogenicity Preclinical Risk Assessment
Moderator: Steve Bowen, PhD, Team Leader, Chemist, Office of Biotechnology Products, CDER, FDA
Table 2: Current and Emerging Predictive Tools: Selecting Candidates and Predicting Clinical Outcome
Moderator: Jad Maamary, PhD, Senior Scientist, Merck and Co., Inc.
Table 3: Comparing Chimeric vs. Humanized vs. Fully Human Antibodies: Implications for Innovator and Biosimilar Drug Development
Jack A. Ragheb, MD, PhD, Senior Medical Fellow, Immunology, Global Patient Safety Eli Lilly & Co.
Table 4: Risk of Immunogenicity of Product and Process-Related Impurities, and Leachables/Extractables
Moderators: Daniela Verthelyi, PhD, Chief, Immunology Lab, Therapeutic Proteins, CDER, FDA
Mohanraj Manangeeswaran, PhD, Therapeutic Proteins, CDER, FDA
Table 5: Progress towards Inducing Immunological Tolerance to Biotherapeutics
Moderator: Ronit Mazor, PhD, Scientist, Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering (ADPE), MedImmune, Inc.
10:30 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Edison D)
11:10 Predicting Immune Responses to Therapeutic Proteins: The Promise of Safer Drugs and Improved Clinical Outcomes?
Zuben E. Sauna, PhD, Principal Investigator, Plasma Protein Therapeutics,
CBER, FDA
Protein therapeutics have become an essential part of modern medicine. The development of immune responses to protein therapeutics can adversely affect safety and/or efficacy, concerns that are underscored by the discontinuation of development of
several drugs due to immunogenicity issues. I will discuss progress in developing technological approaches that are useful for the non-clinical risk assessment of immunogenicity, as well as mitigation strategies such as the de-immunization of
protein molecules.
11:40 In silico and in vitro Methodology to Assess the Immunogenicity Risk Associated with Target Mediated Effect in Mono versus Combination Therapies
Jad Maamary, PhD, Senior Scientist, Merck and Co., Inc.
A methodology describing best practices when analyzing prediction algorithms, sequence databases and in vitro tools for immunogenicity assessment is presented. This methodology examines underlying assumptions in antigen
processing, MHC-II binding, TCR cross-reactivity and germline prevalence in its impact on immunogenicity to biotherapeutics. Case study: in silico/in vitro assessment of immunogenicity
to monoclonal antibodies in mono and combination therapy is assessed with the described tools.
12:10 pm Clinical Relevance of Immunogenicity Risk Assessment Tools and Application for Product Engineering and Selection
Li Xue, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist, BioMedicine Design, Pfizer, Inc.
The immunogenicity risks of therapeutic proteins are evaluated with a variety of in vitro tools. These tools are used to assess the key immunological events that contribute to the anti-drug antibody (ADA) induction.
The presentation will discuss the clinical relevance of the antigen presentation and T cell risk assessment tools. Case studies will be cited to illustrate the application for product testing.
12:40 Managing Unwanted Immune Responses to Antibodies Including Utilisation of MHC-Associated Peptide Proteomics (MAPPs)
Campbell Bunce, Senior Vice President, Scientific Operations, Abzena
This presentation will present accurate and sensitive ways to assess the potential immunogenicity and development of anti-drug antibodies against proteins and antibodies ex vivo by measuring CD4+ T cell responses,
methods for managing and reducing potential immunogenicity, and introduce MHC-Associated Peptide Proteomics (MAPPs) to augment data sets to better inform immunogenicity risk.
1:10 Luncheon Presentation: Preclinical Immunogenicity Risk Assessment: Healthy Donors or Patient Samples?
Noel Smith, PhD, Senior Group Leader, Applied Protein Services, Lonza Pharma & Biotech
Immunogenicity is a common problem for therapeutic proteins and can impact both efficacy and safety. Human in vitro assays are now routinely used during early development to assess the risk of therapeutic proteins inducing an unwanted immune response.
Key to the sensitivity and accuracy of these assays is the quality of PBMC samples used. This presentation will focus on the comparison between PBMC from healthy donors and patient PBMC for immunogenicity risk assessment.
1:40 Dessert and Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing (Edison D)
2:20 Chairperson’s Remarks
Li Xue, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist, BioMedicine Design, Pfizer, Inc.
2:25 Mitigation of Immunogenicity to AAV Gene Therapy Vectors with Tolerogenic Nanoparticles Enables Re-Treatment for Systemic Gene Therapy Applications
Kei Kishimoto, PhD, CSO, Selecta Biosciences
Gene therapy using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors has shown great therapeutic potential. However, neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses to AAV prevent the ability to re-dose patients. Vector re-administration is important for pediatric applications,
as transgene expression is likely to wane over time. We have shown that co-administration of vector with tolerogenic particles containing rapamycin can block formation of anti-AAV NAbs in mice and non-human primates to enable productive vector
readministration.
2:55 Immune Tolerance Induction to Recombinant Immunotoxins
Ronit Mazor, PhD, Scientist, Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering
(ADPE), MedImmune, Inc.
Recombinant Immunotoxins (RITs) are a genetically engineered category of ADC that treats cancer. Because they contain a bacterial toxin that kills the cancer cells, RITs are very immunogenic to cancer patients with a normal immune system; 100% of
patients made high ADA titers, which prevented retreatment and lowered efficacy. This talk will discuss our recent findings of immune tolerance induction to RIT that allow multiple treatment cycles in naïve and mice with pre-existing antibodies.
We used two approaches, using free low dose methotrexate and tolerogenic nanoparticles that contain rapamycin.
3:25 Removing T-Cell Epitopes with Computational Protein Design
Indigo King, PhD, Scientist, Immunology, Cyrus Biotechnology
Computational protein design has the potential to create a novel class of therapeutics with tunable biophysical properties, but immunogenicity remains a concern. We have combined machine learning with structure-based protein design to identify and
redesign T-cell epitopes without disrupting function of the target protein or creating new epitopes. We have verified the method experimentally, removing T-cell epitopes from a gene therapy target, an immunotoxin, and GFP while maintaining folding
and function.
3:55 Close of Immunogenicity Prediction & Control