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We investigated the formation and stability of succinimide, an intermediate of deamidation events, in recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). During the course of an analytical development study of an IgG1 mAbs, we observed that a specific antibody population could be separated from the main product by cation-exchange (CEX) chromatography. The cell-based bioassay measured a ∼70% drop in potency for this fraction. Liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–TOF/MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analyses showed that the modified CEX fraction resulted from the formation of a succinimide intermediate at Asn 55 in the complementarity determining region (CDR) of the heavy chain. Biacore assay revealed a ∼50% decrease in ligand binding activity for the succinimide-containing Fab with respect to the native Fab. It was found that the succinimide form existed as a stable intermediate with a half-life of ∼3 h at 37°C and pH 7.6. Stress studies indicated that mildly acidic pH conditions (pH 5) favored succinimide accumulation, causing a gradual loss in potency. Hydrolysis of the succinimide resulted in a further drop in potency. The implications of the succinimide formation at Asn 55, a highly conserved residue among IgG1 (mAbs), are discussed. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 98:3509–3521, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Characterization and quantitative analysis of modifications in recombinant monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) plays an important role in biopharmaceutical development. This study demonstrates a new approach to assess variants in mAbs, based on individual analysis of subdomains. These subdomains were generated by dithiothreitol reduction and papain cleavage. A reversed-phase LC-MS method was developed that provides efficient separation of subdomains (light and heavy chains, Fab and Fc) containing several specific modifications such as pyroglutamic acid, deamidation, isomerization and oxidation. The best separation was achieved on Zorbax SB C8 columns using linear water–acetonitrile gradients in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. Deconvoluted electrospray ionization mass spectra of these domains revealed the modification profiles of these variants with high accuracy and resolution. This study presents a strategy that offers orthogonal approaches to analyze antibody variants, and provide a qualitative and quantitative assessment of mAb heterogeneity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]