AGT-181: expression in CHO cells and pharmacokinetics, safety, and plasma iduronidase enzyme activity in Rhesus monkeys

J Biotechnol. 2009 Oct 26;144(2):135-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2009.08.019. Epub 2009 Sep 6.

Abstract

Enzyme replacement therapy is not effective for the brain, owing to the lack of transport of the enzyme across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Recombinant proteins such as the lysosomal enzyme, iduronidase, can penetrate the human BBB, following the re-engineering of the protein as an IgG fusion protein, where the IgG moiety targets an endogenous BBB transport system. The IgG acts as a molecular Trojan horse to ferry the fused protein into brain. AGT-181 is a genetically engineered fusion protein of human iduronidase and a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the human insulin receptor. Adult Rhesus monkeys were administered repeat intravenous doses of AGT-181 ranging from 0.2 to 20 mg/kg. Chronic AGT-181 dosing resulted in no toxicity at any dose, no changes in organ histology, no change in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid glucose, and no significant immune response. AGT-181 was rapidly removed from plasma, based on measurements of either plasma immunoreactive AGT-181 or plasma iduronidase enzyme activity. Plasma pharmacokinetics analysis showed a high systemic volume of distribution, and a clearance rate comparable to a small molecule. The safety pharmacology studies provide the basis for future drug development of AGT-181 as a new therapeutic approach to treatment of the brain in Hurler's syndrome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacokinetics*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
  • Area Under Curve
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Glucose / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Humans
  • Iduronidase / administration & dosage
  • Iduronidase / adverse effects
  • Iduronidase / blood*
  • Iduronidase / metabolism
  • Iduronidase / pharmacokinetics
  • Iduronidase / pharmacology
  • Macaca mulatta / blood*
  • Macaca mulatta / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Insulin / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / adverse effects*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacokinetics*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Blood Glucose
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Receptor, Insulin
  • Iduronidase
  • Glucose
  • valanafusp alpha