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Towards a translational physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for receptor-mediated transcytosis of anti-transferrin receptor monoclonal antibodies in the central nervous system

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Abstract

In this manuscript, we present a translational physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to characterize receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) of anti-transferrin receptor (TfR) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the central nervous system (CNS). The model accounts for the state-of-the-art knowledge of the brain's anatomy and physiology, and physiological parameters were fixed according to different species. By estimating a few parameters associated with the TfR concentration, the TfR turnover, and the internalization rate, the model simultaneously characterizes plasma, whole brain, interstitial fluid (ISF), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PK of unbound and bound anti-TfR mAbs with different binding affinities in mice, rats, and monkeys obtained from various literature sources within a threefold prediction error. The final PBPK model was validated using external anti-TfR mAb PK data in mice and monkeys with different affinities and doses. The simulation reasonably predicted plasma and brain PK of monovalent/bivalent anti-TfR mAbs within a threefold prediction error and characterized a bell-shaped relationship between the brain ISF/plasma AUC ratio and the KD value. Although further refinements of the PBPK model and clinical validation are required, this PBPK model may provide physiologically-based translation of CNS disposition of anti-TfR mAbs by accounting for the physiological difference of the endogenous RMT system among different species. The PBPK model may also guide selection of other endogenous receptors, lead optimization, and clinical development of novel CNS-targeted mAbs.

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Abbreviations

%PE:

Percentage of prediction error

BBB:

Blood–brain barrier

BCSFB:

Blood-CSF barrier

CM:

Cisterna magna

CNS:

Central nervous system

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

CSF_CM:

CSF at the CM

CSF_LV:

CSF at the LV

CSF_SAS:

CSF at the SAS

ECL:

Ependymal cellular layer

FcRn:

The neonatal Fc receptor

GSA:

Global sensitivity analysis

hTfRMAB:

Humanized anti-TfR mAb

ICV:

Intracerebroventricular

IgG:

Immunoglobulin G

ISF:

Interstitial fluid

KD :

The dissociation constant

LS:

Lumbar spine

LV:

Lateral ventricles

mAbs:

Monoclonal antibodies

PBPK:

Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic

PK:

Pharmacokinetics

PVS:

Perivascular space

RMT:

Receptor-mediated transcytosis

SA:

Surface Area

SAS:

Subarachnoid space

ST:

Striatum

SV-ARBEC:

SV40-immortalized adult rat brain endothelial cells

Tf:

Transferrin

TfR:

Transferrin receptor

TFV:

Third-fourth ventricles

TMDD:

Target-mediated drug disposition

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Center for Protein Therapeutics at the University at Buffalo. D.K.S is supported by National Institute of General Medical Sciences Grant (GM114179), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Grant (AI138195), and National Cancer Institute Grant (R01CA246785).

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  1. Hsueh-Yuan Chang

    Present address: Biotherapeutics Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, CT, 06877, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The State University of New York at Buffalo, 455 Pharmacy Building, Buffalo, NY, 14214-8033, USA

    Hsueh-Yuan Chang, Shengjia Wu, Ekram Ahmed Chowdhury & Dhaval K. Shah

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Appendix

Appendix

See Table 6.

Table 6 A glossary of parameters used to build the platform PBPK model for RMT of anti-TfR mAbs
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Chang, HY., Wu, S., Chowdhury, E.A. et al. Towards a translational physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for receptor-mediated transcytosis of anti-transferrin receptor monoclonal antibodies in the central nervous system. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn 49, 337–362 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10928-021-09800-w

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