Comprehensive biophysical and functional study of ziv-aflibercept: characterization and forced degradation

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 14;10(1):2675. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59465-7.

Abstract

Aflibercept (AFL) is an Fc fusion protein used in the treatment of colorectal cancers and different ophthalmological diseases. There are two medicines in which AFL is the active substance: Zaltrap and Eylea, referred as ziv-AFL and AFL respectively. No proper accelerated degradation studies were published on either AFL or ziv-AFL. These studies are essential during research, development and manufacturing stages. Here, we characterized ziv-AFL and submitted it to different stress conditions: light, 60 °C, freeze-thaw cycles, changes in pH, high hypertonic solution and strong denaturing conditions. We used an array of techniques to detect aggregation (SE-HPLC/DAD and DLS), changes in secondary structure (Far-UV circular dichroism), changes in conformation or tertiary structure (Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence) and alterations in functionality (ELISA). Results indicate that aggregation is common degradation pathway. Two different types of aggregates were detected: dimers and high molecular weight aggregates attributed to β-amyloid-like structures. Secondary structure was maintained in most of the stress tests, while conformation was altered by almost all the tests except for the freeze-thaw cycles. Functionality, evaluated by its immunochemical reaction with VEGF, was found to be stable but with decrease when exposed to light and with likely partial inactivation of the drug when pH was altered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Stability*
  • Freezing / adverse effects
  • Hot Temperature / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hypertonic Solutions / adverse effects
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Light / adverse effects
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Hypertonic Solutions
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • aflibercept
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor