AU4887099A - N-terminally chemically modified protein compositions and methods - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

foot *4 to.

00 *4B* *4 Name of Applicant/s: Amgen Inc.

Actual Inventor/s: Olaf B Kinstler and Nancy E Gabriel and Christine E. Farrar and Randolf B Deprince Address for Service: BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: 'N-TERMINALLY CHEMICALLY MODIFIED PROTEIN COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS' Details of Original Application No. 18419/95 dated 08 FEB 1995 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 25084AUP00 la N-TERMINALLY CHEMICALLY MODIFIED PROTEIN COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS Field of the Invention The present invention broadly relates to the field of protein modification, and, more specifically, the attachment of water soluble polymers to proteins or analogs thereof, as described in the parent application AU 18419/95, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention also relates to chemically modified consensus interferon.

Background Proteins for therapeutic use are currently available in suitable forms in S adequate quantities largely as a result of the advances in recombinant DNA technologies.

The availability of recombinant proteins has engendered advances in protein formulation S. 15 and chemical modification. Chemical attachment may effectively block a proteolytic enzyme from physical contact with the protein backbone itself, and thus prevent degradation. Additional advantages include, under certain circumstances, increasing the stability and circulation time of the therapeutic protein and decreasing immunogenicity.

A review article describing protein modification and fusion proteins is Francis, Focus on Growth Factors 3: 4-10 (May 1992) (published by Mediscript, Mountview Court, Friem Barnet-Lane, London N20, OLD, UK).

2 Polyethylene glycol is one such chemical moiety which has been used in the preparation of therapeutic protein products (the verb "pegylate" meaning to attach at least one PEG molecule). For example Adagen, a pegylated formulation of adenosine deaminase is approved for treating severe combined immunodeficiency disease; pegylated superoxide dismutase has been in clinical trials for treating head injury; pegylated alpha interferon has been tested in phase I clinical trials for treating hepatitis; pegylated glucocerebrosidase and pegylated hemoglobin are reported to have been in preclinical testing. The attachment of polyethylene glycol has been shown to protect against proteolysis, Sada, et al., J. Fermentation Bioengineering 21: 137-139 (1991), and methods for attachment of certain polyethylene glycol moieties are available. See U.S. Patent No. 4,179,337, Davis et al., "Non-Immunogenic Polypeptides," issued December 18, 1979; and U.S. Patent No. 4,002,531, Royer, "Modifying enzymes with Polyethylene Glycol and Product Produced Thereby," issued January 11, 1977. For a review, see Abuchowski et al., in Enzymes as Drugs. (J.S.

Holcerberg and J. Roberts, eds. pp. 367-383 (1981)).

Other water soluble polymers have been used, such as copolymers of ethylene glycol/propylene glycol, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly-1, 3-dioxolane, poly-1,3,6-trioxane, ethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer, polyaminoacids (either homopolymers or random copolymers).

For polyethylene glycol, a variety of means have been used to attach the polyethylene glycol molecules to the protein. Generally, polyethylene glycol molecules are connected to the protein via a reactive group found on the protein. Amino groups, such 3as those on lysine residues or at the N-terminus, are convenient for such attachment. For example, Royer Pat. No. 4,002,531, above) states that reductive alkylation was used for attachment of polyethylene glycol molecules to an enzyme. EP 0 539 167, published April 28, 1993, Wright, "Peg Imidates and Protein Derivates Thereof" states that peptides and organic compounds with free amino group(s) are modified with an immediate derivative of PEG or related water-soluble 0 organic polymers. U.S. Patent No. 4,904,584, Shaw, issued February 27, 1990, relates to the modification of the number of lysine residues in proteins for the attachment of polyethylene glycol molecules via reactive amine groups.

One specific therapeutic protein which has been chemically modified is granulocyte colony stimulating factor, "G-CSF." G-CSF induces the rapid proliferation and release of neutrophilic granulocytes to the blood stream, and thereby provides therapeutic 20 effect in fighting infection.

European patent publication EP 0 401 384, published December 12, 1990, entitled, "Chemically Modified Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor," describes materials and methods for preparing G-CSF to which polyethylene glycol molecules are attached.

Modified G-CSF and analogs thereof are also reported in EP 0 473 268, published March 4, 1992, entitled "Continuous Release Pharmaceutical Compositions Comprising a Polypeptide Covalently Conjugated To A Water Soluble Polymer," stating the use of various G-CSF and derivatives covalently conjugated to a water soluble particle polymer, such as polyethylene glycol.

A modified polypeptide having human granulocyte colony stimulating factor activity is reported in EP 0 335 423 published October 4, 1989.

4 Another example is pegylated IL-6, EP 0 442 724, entitled, "Modified hIL-6," (s co-pending U.S.S.N. 07/632,070) which discloses polyethylene glycol molecules added to IL-6.

EP 0 154 316, published September 11, 1985 reports reacting a lymphokine with an aldehyde of polyethylene glycol.

Many methods of attaching a polymer to a protein involve using a moiety to act as a linking group. Such moieties may, however, be antigenic. A tresyl chloride method involving no linking group is available, but this method may be difficult to use to produce therapeutic products as the use of tresyl :i chloride may produce toxic by-products. See Francis et al., In: Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: in vivo pathways of degradation and strategies for protein stabilization (Eds. Ahern., T. and Manning, M.C.) Plenum, New York, 1991) Also, Delgado et al., "Coupling of PEG to Protein By Activation With Tresyl Chloride, Applications In Immunoaffinity Cell Preparation", In: Fisher et al., eds., Separations Using Aqueous Phase Systems, Applications In Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Plenum Press, N.Y.N.Y.,1989 pp. 211-213.

Chamow et al., Bioconjugate Chem. 5: 133-140 (1994) report the modification of CD4 immunoadhesin with monomethoxlypoly(ethylene glycol) aldehyde via reductive alkylation. The authors report that 50% of the CD4-Ig was MePEG-modified under conditions allowing the control over the extent of pegylation. Id. at page 137. The authors also report that the in vitro binding capability of the modified CD4-Ig (to the protein gp 120) decreased at a rate correlated to the extent of MePEGylation.

Ibid. See ala, Rose et al., Bioconjugate Chemistry 2: 154-159 (1991) which reports the selective attachment of the linker group carbohydrazide to the C-terminal carboxyl group of a protein substrate (insulin).

None of the methods in the general state of the art, or the art relating to particular proteins, allow for selective attachment of a water soluble polymer to the N-terminus of a protein such as G-CSF, however. Rather, the currently existing methods provide for non-selective attachment at any reactive group, whether located within the protein, such as a lysine 10 side group, or at the N-terminus. This results in a heterogenous population. For example, for pegylated G-CSF molecules, some molecules have a different number of polyethylene glycol moieties than others. As an illustration, protein molecules with five lysine residues reacted in the above methods may result in a heterogenous mixture, some having six polyethylene glycol moieties, some five, some four, some three, some two, some one and some zero. And, among the molecules with several, the polyethylene glycol moieties may not 20 be attached at the same location on different molecules.

This is disadvantageous when developing a therapeutic pegylated protein product. In such development, predictability of biological activity is crucial. For example, it has been shown that in the case of nonselective conjugation of superoxide dismutase with polyethylene glycol, several fractions of the modified enzyme were completely inactive (P.McGoff et al. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 36:3079-3091 (1988)). One cannot have such predictability if the therapeutic protein differs in composition from lot to lot. Some of the polyethylene glycol moieties may not be bound as stably in some locations as others, and this may result in such moieties becoming dissociated with the protein. Of course, if such moieties are randomly attached and therefore become randomly dissociated, the -6pharmacokinetics of the therapeutic protein cannot be precisely predictable. From a consumer's point of view, the circulation time may vary from lot to lot, and thus dosing may be inaccurate. From a producer's point of view, garnering regulatory approval for sale of the therapeutic protein may have added complexities. Additionally, none of the above methods provide for selective N-terminal chemical modification without a linking moiety (between the protein and the polymer). If a linking moiety is used, there may be disadvantages due to possible antigenicity.

Thus, there exists a need for methods allowing for selectively N-terminally chemically modified proteins and analogs thereof, including G-CSF and consensus interferon.

0 0* 0* -7- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a number of aspects relating to specific modifications of consensus interferon.

According to a first aspect the invention consists in a chemically modified consensus interferon comprised of a consensus interferon protein moiety connected to at least one water soluble polymer moiety.

According to a second aspect the invention consists in a chemically modified consensus interferon comprised of IFN-conl connected to at least one polyethylene glycol moiety.

10 According to a third aspect the invention consists in a pegylated consensus interferon.

S" "According to a fourth aspect the invention consists in a method for attaching a water soluble polymer to consensus interferon, wherein said water soluble polymer has a single reactive aldehyde group, said method comprising: 15 reacting a consensus interferon moiety with a water soluble polymer moiety under reducing alkylation conditions, at a pH sufficiently acidic to selectively activate the a-amino group at the amino terminus of said consensus interferon moiety; and obtaining the reaction product and optionally, separating the reaction products from unreacted moieties.

According to a fifth aspect, the invention consists in a method for attaching a polyethylene glycol molecule to a consensus interferon molecule, wherein said 7apolyethylene glycol molecule has a single reactive aldehyde group, said method comprising: reacting said consensus interferon with said polyethylene glycol molecule under reducing alkylation conditions, at a pH sufficiently acidic to selectively activate the c-amino group at the amino terminus of said consensus interferon; and obtaining the pegylated consensus interferon and optionally, separating the pegylated consensus interferon from non-pegylated consensus interferon.

According to a sixth aspect, the invention consists in a pegylated consensus 10 interferon product produced by the process of the fifth aspect.

According to a seventh aspect, the invention consists in a substantially homogenous preparation of monopegylated consensus interferon.

According to an eighth aspect, the invention consists in a pharmaceutical composition comprising: 15 a substantially homogenous preparation of monopegylated consensus interferon, said monopegylated consensus interferon consisting of a polyethylene glycol moiety connected to a consensus interferon moiety solely at the N-terminus thereof in an amine linkage; fewer than 5% non-pegylated consensus interferon molecules; and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, adjuvant or carrier.

The term "protein" as used herein is synonymous with "polypeptide" or "peptide" unless otherwise indicated.

-7b- Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

o* 8- Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1A is a reproduction of the chromatogram of the peaks from ion exchange chromatography of pegylated G-CSF.

FIGURE 1B is an SDS-PAGE of various species of mono-pegylated G-CSF.

FIGURE 2 is an SEC-HPLC profile of (Line A) recombinant human methionyl G-CSF standard; (Line B) SCM-PEG-GCSF reaction mix; (Line C) N-terminally 10 pegylated G-CSF; (Line D) lysine 35 monopegylated G-CSF; (Line E) lysine 41 monopegylated G-CSF.

FIGURES 3A, 3B, and 3C are HPLC endoproteinase SV8 peptide mapping tracings of (3A) N-terminally pegylated G-CSF; (3B) lysine 35 monopegylated G-CSF; 15 (3C) lysine 41 monopegylated G-CSF.

FIGURE 4 is a bar graph illustrating a comparison of in vitro bioactivity of monopegylated G- CSF species compared to an unpegylated standard.

FIGURES 5A and 5B are graphs illustrating results of in viv bioactivity assays of monopegylated G-CSF derivatives, with 5A illustrating the average hamster white blood cell count after a single subcutaneous injection of N-terminally pegylated G-CSF, lysine 35 monopegylated G-CSF, or lysine 41 monopegylated G-CSF, and 5B illustrating the net average white blood cell count area under the curve after a single subcutaneous injection of the various monopegylated G-CSF derivatives listed above.

FIGURES 6A, 6B, and 6C are SEC-HPLC profiles for stability studies of N-terminally pegylated G-CSF or lysine 35 monopegylated G-CSF. FIGURES 6A and 6B are the profiles for stability studies conducted at pH 6.0 at 4°C for (6A) N-terminally monopegylated G-CSF or (6B) lysine 35 monopegylated G-CSF. FIGURE 6C shows the profiles for extended stability studies at pH 6.0 and 9- 4°C for lysine 35 monopegylated G-CSF. Time indicates days.

FIGURE 7 illustrates size exclusion HPLC analysis of the reaction mixture in the process of reductive alkylation of rh-G-CSF with methoxypolyethylene glycol aldehyde (MW 6 kDa).

FIGURE 8 illustrates size exclusion HPLC analysis of the reaction mixture using N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of MPEG, also at MW=6kDa.

10 FIGURE 9 illustrates the total white blood cell response after a single subcutaneous dose to mono-N terminal MPEG-GCSF conjugates prepared by reductive alkylation of rh-G-CSF with MPEG aldehydes of different molecular weights (6 kDa,12kDa and 20 kDa).

Detailed Description The present invention relates to substantially homogenous preparations of N-terminally chemically modified proteins, and methods therefor.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to N-terminally chemically modified G-CSF compositions and methods therefor.

The present methods (for both N-terminally modified G-CSF as well as the present reductive alkylation methods) provide for a substantially homogenous mixture of monopolymer/protein conjugate.

"Substantially homogenous" as used herein means that the only polymer/protein conjugate-molecules observed are those having one polymer moiety. The preparation may contain unreacted lacking polymer moiety) protein. As ascertained by peptide mapping and N-terminal sequencing, one example below provides for a preparation which is at least 90% monopolymer/protein conjugate, and at most 10% unreacted protein.

Preferably, the N-terminally monopegylated material is 10 at least 95% of the preparation (as in the working example below) and most preferably, the N-terminally monopegylated material is 99% of the preparation or more. The monopolymer/protein conjugate has biological activity. The present "substantially homogenous" N-terminally pegylated G-CSF preparations provided herein are those which are homogenous enough to display the advantages of a homogenous preparation, ease in clinical application in predictability of lot to lot 10 pharmacokinetics.

One may choose to prepare a mixture of polymer/protein conjugate molecules, and the advantage provided herein is that one may select the proportion of monopolymer/protein conjugate to include in the mixture.

15 Thus, if desired, one may prepare a mixture of various protein with various numbers of polymer moieties attached di-, tri-, tetra-, etc.) and combine with the monopolymer/protein conjugate material prepared using the present methods, and have a mixture with a predetermined proportion of monopolymer/protein conjugate.

Provided below is a working example using G-CSF, which, as described above, is a therapeutic protein used to treat hematopoietic disorders. In general, G-CSF useful in the practice of this invention may be a form isolated from mammalian organisms or, alternatively, a product of chemical synthetic procedures or of prokaryotic or eukaryotic host expression of exogenous DNA sequences obtained by genomic or cDNA cloning or by DNA synthesis. Suitable prokaryotic hosts include various bacteria E. coli); suitable eukaryotic hosts include yeast cerevisiae) and mammalian cells Chinese hamster ovary cells, monkey cells). Depending upon the host employed, the G-CSF expression product may be 1I glycosylated with mammalian or other eukaryotic carbohydrates, or it may be non-glycosylated. The G-CSF expression product may also include an initial methionine amino acid residue (at position The present invention contemplates the use of any and all such forms of G-CSF, although recombinant G-CSF, especially E. coli derived, is preferred, for, among other things, greatest commercial practicality.

Certain G-CSF analogs have been reported to be 10 biologically functional, and these may also be chemically modified, by, for example, the addition of one or more polyethylene glycol molecules. G-CSF analogs are reported in U.S. Patent No. 4,810,643.

Examples of other G-CSF analogs which have been reported 15 to have biological activity are those set forth in AU-A-76380/91, EP 0 459 630, EP 0 272 703, EP 0 473 268 and EP O 335 423, although no representation is made with regard to the activity of each analog reportedly disclosed. See also AU-A-10948/92, PCT US94/00913 and EP 0 243 153.

Generally, the G-CSFs and analogs thereof useful in the present invention may be ascertained by practicing the chemical modification procedures as provided herein to selectively chemically modify the N-terminal a-amino group, and testing the resultant product for the desired biological characteristic, such as the biological activity assays provided herein. Of course, if one so desires when-treating non-human mammals, one may use recombinant non-human G-CSF's, such as recombinant murine, bovine, canine, etc. See PCT WO 9105798 and PCT WO 8910932, for example.

Thus, another aspect of the present invention includes N-terminally chemically modified G-CSF analog compositions. As described above, G-CSF analogs may include those having amino acid additions, deletions

I

12 and/or substitutions (as compared to the G-CSF amino acid sequence set forth in Example 1, below). Those G-CSF analogs which are predicted to function when N-terminally pegylated to selectively stimulate the production of neutrophils are those with an N-terminus which is not necessary for binding to a G-CSF receptor.

See Hill et al., PNAS-USA 0: 5167-5171 (1993); see also PCT US94/00913.

The polymer molecules used may be selected 10 from among water soluble polymers. (For the reductive alkylation procedure described herein, the polymers should have a single reactive aldehyde.) The polymer selected should be water soluble so that the protein to which it is attached does not precipitate in an aqueous environment, such as a physiological environment. For reductive alkylation, the polymer selected should have a single reactive aldehyde so that the degree of polymerization may be controlled as provided for in the present methods. The polymer may be branched or 20 unbranched. Preferably, for therapeutic use of the end-product preparation, the polymer will be pharmaceutically acceptable. One skilled in the art will be able to select the desired polymer based on such considerations as whether the polymer/protein conjugate will be used therapeutically, and if so, the desired dosage, circulation time, resistance to proteolysis, and other considerations. For G-CSF, these may be ascertained using the assays provided herein, and one skilled in the art should select the appropriate assays for other therapeutic proteins. The water soluble polymer may be selected from the group consisting of, for example, those listed above (in the Background section), and dextran or poly(n-vinyl pyrrolidone)polyethylene glycol, propropylene glycol homopolymers, prolypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide 13 co-polymers, polyoxyethylated polyols and polyvinyl alcohol.

Subject to considerations for optimization as discussed below, the polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branched or unbranched. For polyethylene glycol, the preferred molecular weight is between about 2kDa and about 100kDa (the term "about" indicating that in preparations of polyethylene glycol, some molecules will weigh more, some less, than the 10 stated molecular weight). Examples 1 and 2 below involve the use of PEG 6000, which was selected for ease in purification and for providing an adequate model system. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desired therapeutic profile the duration of sustained release desired, the effects, if any on biological activity, the ease in handling, the degree or lack of antigenicity and other known effects of the polyethylene glycol to a therapeutic protein or analog).

One specific aspect of the present invention 20 is N-terminally monopegylated G-CSF comprised of a polyethylene glycol moiety and a G-CSF moiety. For the present compositions, one may select from a variety of polyethylene glycol molecules (by molecular weight, branching, etc.), the proportion of polyethylene glycol molecules to G-CSF protein molecules in the reaction mix, the type of pegylation reaction to be performed, the method of obtaining the selected N-terminally pegylated G-CSF, and the type of G-CSF to be used.

Further, the present compositions and methods include formulation of pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment and manufacture of medicaments.

The proportion of polyethylene glycol molecules to protein molecules will vary, as will their concentrations in the reaction mixture. In general, the optimum ratio (in terms of efficiency of reaction in 14 that there is no excess unreacted protein or polymer) will be determined by the molecular weight of the polyethylene glycol selected. In addition, as one example of the present methods involves non-specific pegylation and later purification of N-terminally monopegylated species, the ratio may depend on the number of available reactive groups (typically or 3 amino groups) available. One working example herein involved a fairly low reaction ratio of protein:PEG molecules to obtain monopegylated material generally PEG molecules per protein molecules).

For obtaining N-terminally pegylated G-CSF, the method for pegylation may also be selected from among various methods, as discussed above, or the 15 present reductive alkylation as described in Example 2, below. A method involving no linking group between the polyethylene glycol moiety and the protein moiety is described in Francis et al., In: Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: in vivo pathways of degradation and 20 strategies for protein stabilization (Eds. Ahern., T.

and Manning, Plenum, New York, 1991) Also, Delgado et al., "Coupling of PEG to Protein By Activation With Tresyl Chloride, Applications In Immunoaffinity Cell Preparation", In: Fisher et al., eds., Separations Using Aqueous Phase Systems, Applications In Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Plenum Press, N.Y.N.Y.,198 9 pp. 211-213, involves the use of tresyl chloride, which results-in no linkage group between the polyethylene glycol moiety and the protein moiety. This method may be difficult to use to produce therapeutic products as the use of tresyl chloride may produce toxic by-products. One of the present working examples involves the use of N-hydroxy succinimidyl esters of carboxymethyl methoxy polyethylene glycol. As will be discussed in more detail below, another working 15 example involves the use of the present reductive alkylation methods.

The method of obtaining the N-terminally pegylated G-CSF preparation separating this moiety from other monopegylated moieties if necessary) may be by purification of the N-terminally pegylated material from a population of pegylated G-CSF molecules.

For example, presented below is an example where pegylated G-CSF is first separated by ion exchange chromatography to obtain material having a charge characteristic of monopegylated material (other multi-pegylated material having the same apparent charge .may be present), and then the monopegylated materials are separated using size exclusion chromatography. In this way, N-terminally monopegylated G-CSF was separated from other monopegylated species, as well as other multi-pegylated species. Other methods are reported.

For example, PCT WO 90/04606, published May 3, 1990, reports a process for fractionating a mixture of PEGprotein adducts comprising partitioning the PEG/protein adducts in a PEG-containing aqueous biphasic system.

In a different aspect, the present invention provides a method for selectively obtaining an N-terminally chemically modified protein (or analog).

Provided below is a method of protein modification by reductive alkylation which exploits differential reactivity of different types of primary amino groups (lysine versus the N-terminal) available for derivatization in a particular protein. Under the appropriate reaction conditions, substantially selective derivatization of the protein at the N-terminus with a carbonyl group containing polymer is achieved. The reaction is performed at pH which allows one to take advantage of the pKa differences between the £-amino groups of the lysine residues and that of the a-amino 16 group of the N-terminal residue of the protein. By such selective derivatization attachment of a water soluble polymer to a protein is controlled: the conjugation with the polymer takes place predominantly at the N-terminus of the protein and no significant modification of other reactive groups, such as the lysine side chain amino groups, occurs.

Importantly, and surprisingly, the present invention provides for a method of making a substantially homogenous preparation of monopolymer/protein conjugate molecules, in the absence of further extensive purification as is required using other chemical modification chemistries. Additionally, .:the product having an amine linkage is unexpectedly more stable than a product produced with an amide linkage, and this is demonstrated in the aggregation studies below. More specifically, if polyethylene glycol is used, the present invention also provides for N-terminally pegylated protein lacking possibly 20 antigenic linkage groups, and having the polyethylene glycol moiety directly coupled to the protein moiety .i without toxic by-products.

The reaction may be diagrammed as follows (indicating sodium cyanohydroboride as an illustrative reducing agent): 17

NHNH

2 3 0 11

H-C-PEG

NaCNBH 3 6

NH

3 OOC PRTI*-H-E 18 Thus, one aspect of the present invention is a method for preparing a polymer/protein conjugate comprised of reacting a protein moiety having more than one amino group with a water soluble polymer moiety under reducing alkylation conditions, at a pH suitable to selectively activate the a-amino group at the amino terminus of said protein moiety so that said water soluble polymer selectively attaches to said a-amino group; and obtaining the reaction product. One may 10 optionally, and preferably for a therapeutic product, separate the reaction products from unreacted moieties.

Another aspect of the present invention is that such reductive alkylation will provide for selective attachment of the polymer to any protein having an a -amino group at the amino terminus, and provide for a substantially homogenous preparation of monopolymer/ protein conjugate. The term "monopolymer/ protein conjugate" is used here to mean a composition comprised of a single polymer moiety attached to a 20 protein moiety (also encompassed are those conjugates using protein analogs as described herein). The .i monopolymer/protein conjugate will have a polymer moiety located at the N-terminus, but not on amino side groups, such as those for lysine. The preparation will preferably be greater than 80% mcnopolymer/ protein conjugate, and more preferably greater than monopolymer protein conjugate.

For a substantially homogenous population of monopolymer/protein conjugate molecules, the reaction conditions are those which permit the selective attachment of the water soluble polymer moiety to the N-terminus of the desired protein. Such reaction conditions generally provide for pKa differences between the lysine amino groups and the a-amino group at the N-terminus (the pK being the pH at which 50% of the 19 amino groups are protonated and 50% are not). In general, for different proteins, different pH's may be used for optimally modifying the a-amino groups of the N-terminus.

The pH also affects the ratio of polymer to protein to be used. In general, if the pH is lower than the pK, a larger excess of polymer to protein will be desired the less reactive the N-terminal a-amino group, the more polymer needed to achieve optimal S 10 conditions). If the pH is higher than the pK, the polymer:protein ratio need not be as large more reactive groups are available, so fewer polymer molecules are needed).

Another important consideration is the molecular weight of the polymer. In general, the higher the molecular weight of the polymer, the fewer number of polymer molecules which may be attached to the protein.

Similarly, branching of the polymer should be taken into account when optimizing these parameters. Generally, 20 the higher the molecular weight (or the more branches) the higher the polymer:protein ratio.

For the present reductive alkylation, the .reducing agent should be stable in aqueous solution and preferably be able to reduce only the Schiff base formed in the initial process of reductive alkylation.

Preferred reducing agents may be selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, sodium cyanoborohydride, dimethylamine borate, timethylamine borate and pyridine borate. Sodium cyanoborohydride was used in the working examples below.

The water soluble polymer may be of the type described above, and should have a single reactive aldehyde for coupling to the protein. For polyethylene glycol, use of PEG 6000 for coupling to G-CSF and PEG 12000 for consensus interferon are described below. It 20 is noted, that for G-CSF, PEG 12000, 20000 and 25000 have also been used successfully in the present methods.

Polyethylene glycol propionaldenhyde (see, U.S.

Patent No. 5,252,714) is advantageous for its stability in water.

As indicated above, the present methods are broadly applicable to any protein or analog thereof having an N-terminal a-amino group. For example, proteins which are the product of an exogenous DNA sequence expressed in bacteria may have, as a result of •g bacterially expression, an N-terminal methionyl residue with an a-amino group. As indicated above, peptides are included, as are peptidomimetics and other modified proteins. Protein analogs, such as the G-CSF analogs described above, and the non-naturally occurring consensus interferon are also suitable for the present methods.

Thus, for the present N-terminally chemically modified G-CSF, any of the G-CSF's or analogs as 20 described herein may be used those described "2supra). The working examples below use recombinant SG-CSF produced in bacteria, having 174 amino acids and an extra N-terminal methionyl residue. As described herein, the chemical modification may be performed with any of the water soluble polymers described herein, and the present working examples describe the use of polyethylene glycol.

Consensus interferon-is another protein used in the present working examples. Demonstrated below is the preparation of chemically modified consensus interferon using the present reductive alkylation methods for N-terminal monopegylation. Thus, other aspects of the present invention relate to these preparations. As employed herein, consensus human leukocyte interferon, referred to here as "consensus 21 interferon," or "IFN-con", means a nonnaturallyoccurring polypeptide, which predominantly includes those amino acid residues that are common to all naturally-occurring human leukocyte interferon subtype sequences and which include, at one or more of those positions where there is no amino acid common to all subtypes, an amino acid which predominantly occurs at that position and in no event includes any amino acid residue which is not extant in that position in at least 10 one naturally-occurring subtype. IFN-con encompasses the amino acid sequences designated IFN-conl, IFN-con2 and IFN-con3 which are disclosed in commonly owned U.S.

S. Patents 4,695,623 and 4,897,471, the entirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Patent Nos.

4,897,471 and 4,695,623 use the denomination which is not used herein.) DNA sequences encoding IFN-con may be synthesized as described in the above-mentioned patents or other standard methods. IFN-con polypeptides .are preferably the products of expression of 20 manufactured DNA sequences, transformed or transfected into bacterial hosts, especially E. CoUl. That is, IFN-con is recombinant IFN-con. IFN-con is preferably produced in EL. ci may be purified by procedures known to those skilled in the art and generally described in Klein et al.,J. Chromatog. 454: 205-215 (1988) for IFN-conl. Purified IFN-con may comprise a mixture of isoforms, purified IFN-coni comprises a mixture of methionyl IFN-conl, des-methionyl IFN-conl and des-methionyl IFN-coni with a blocked N-terminus (Klein et al., Arc. Biochem. Biophys. 226: 531-537 (1990)).

Alternatively, IFN-con may comprise a specific, isolated isoform. Isoforms of IFN-con are separated from each other by techniques such as isoelectric focusing which are known to those skilled in the art.

22 Thus, another aspect of the present invention is a chemically modified consensus interferon wherein said consensus interferon moiety is selected from the group consisting of IFN-conl, IFN-con2, and IFN-con3.

The chemical modification is using a water soluble polymer as described herein, such as PEG, and the present reductive alkylation methods may be used for selective N-terminal chemical modification. Example 3 herein illustrates a chemically modified IFN conl 0 comprised of an IFN coni moiety connected at the N-terminus to a polyethylene glycol moiety (PEG 12000).

In another aspect, the present methods yield pegylated proteins where the polyethylene glycol moiety is directly attached to a protein moiety, and a separate linking group is absent and no toxic by-products are present. The examples include G-CSF and consensus interferon as described herein. For a population of pegylated G-CSF protein molecules wherein the polyethylene glycol moiety is directly attached to the 20 G-CSF protein moiety (not necessarily a population of N-terminally pegylated G-CSF molecules), one may perform the above reductive alkylation with or without an acidic pH.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, provided are pharmaceutical compositions of the above. Such pharmaceutical compositions may be for administration for injection, or for oral, pulmonary, nasal or other forms of administration. In general, comprehended by the invention are pharmaceutical compositions comprising effective amounts of monopolymer/protein conjugate products of the invention together with pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, preservatives, solubilizers, emulsifiers, adjuvants and/or carriers. Such compositions include diluents of various buffer content Tris-HCl, acetate, 23 phosphate), pH and ionic strength; additives such as detergents and solubilizing agents Tween Polysorbate 80), anti-oxidants ascorbic acid, sodium metabisulfite), preservatives Thimersol, benzyl alcohol) and bulking substances lactose, mannitol); incorporation of the material into particulate preparations of polymeric compounds such as polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, etc. or into liposomes. Such compositions may influence the physical 10 state, stability, rate of in vive release, and rate of in ivo clearance of the present N-terminally chemically modified proteins. See, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed. (1990, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, PA 18042) pages 1435-1712 which are herein incorporated by reference.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, methods of treatment and manufacture of a medicament are provided. Conditions alleviated or modulated by the administration of the present 20 polymer/G-CSF conjugates (or analogs having the hematopoietic biological properties of naturally occurring G-CSF) are typically those characterized by a reduced hematopoietic or immune function, and, more specifically, a reduced neutrophil count. Such conditions may be induced as a course of therapy for other purposes, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Such conditions may result from infectious disease, such as bacterial, viral, fungal or other infectious disease. For example, sepsis results from bacterial infection. Or, such condition may be hereditary or environmentally caused, such as severe chronic neutropenia or leukemias. Age may also play a factor, as in the geriatric setting, patients may have a reduced neutrophil count or reduced neutrophil mobilization. Some of such conditions are reviewed in 24 Filgrastim (r-met Hu G-CSF) in Clinical Practice, Morstyn, G. and T.M. Dexter, eds., Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y. (1993), 351 pp. Other less-studied conditions which may be alleviated or modulated by administration of the present polymer/G-CSF conjugates may include the reduction of lipids (or cholesterol) in the blood stream, and certain cardiovascular conditions, as G-CSF may induce production of plasminogen activators. The mode of action of G-CSF (or analogs) in these settings is not well understood at present. The addition of a water soluble polymer, such as polyethylene glycol, may provide practical patient benefits in that the sustained duration of biological activity may allow for fewer G-CSF injections per course of treatment.

Generally, conditions which may be alleviated or modulated by administration of the present polymer/consensus interferon are those to which consensus interferon is applicable and include cell proliferation disorders, viral infections, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

McManus Balmer, DICP, The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2: 761-767 (1990) (Clinical use of biologic response modifiers in cancer treatment: an overview. Part I. The Interferons). Methods and compositions for the treatment of cell proliferation disorders using consensus interferon are described in PCT WO 92/06707, published April 30, 1992, which is herein incorporated by reference. For example, hepatitis B, C, D, E) may be treatable using the present pegylated consensus interferon molecules. The working example below demonstrates that, in vitro, chemically modified consensus interferon has 20% of the biological activity of non-chemically modified consensus interferon.

25 For all of the above molecules, as further studies are conducted, information will emerge regarding appropriate dosage levels for treatment of various conditions in various patients, and the ordinary skilled worker, considering the therapeutic context, age and general health of the recipient, will be able to ascertain proper dosing. Generally, for injection or infusion, dosage will be between 0.01 gg/kg body weight, (calculating the mass of the protein alone, without chemical modification), and 100 ;g/kg (based on the same).

The below examples illustrate the various aspects discussed above. In Example 1, the advantages of N-terminally pegylated G-CSF are demonstrated as compared to G-CSF monopegylated at lysine-35 or lysine 41 (of the G-CSF met 174 amino acid version). Example 2 illustrates the present reductive alkylation in N-terminally pegylating G-CSF. The method provides for a substantially homogenous preparation of N-terminally 20 pegylated G-CSF. Example 3 illustrates the present reductive alkylation in N-terminally pegylating consensus interferon.

EXAMPLE 1 A. Preparation of Recombinant Human met-G-CSF Recombinant human met-G-CSF (referred to as "rhG-CSF" or "r-met-hu-G-CSF" from time to time herein) was prepared as described above according to methods in the Souza patent, U.S. Pat. No., 4,810,643, which is herein incorporated by reference. The rhG-CSF employed was an E g.li derived recombinant expression product having the amino acid sequence (encoded by the DNA 26 sequence) shown below (Seq. ID NOs. 1 and 2) ATG ACT CCA TTA GGT CCT GCT TCT TCT CTG CCG CAA AGC TTT CTG

CTG

L

GCA

A

GAA

E

CCG

P

CTG

L

CAA

a

ACT

T

CAG

Q

GGT

G

GGT

G

TAC

T

~AA

K

CTG

L

GAG

E

CTG

L

TCT

S

GCT

A

CTG

L

ATG

M

GCT

A

GTA

V

CGT

P

TGT

C

CAA

a

CTG

L

TCT

S

CAA

Q

CTG

L

CAG

a

GAA

E

ATG

M

CTG

L

GTT

L G P A S S L CTG GAA CAG GTT CGT AAA ATC CAG GGT GAC GGT GCT

L

GAA

E

GTA

V

TCT

S

CTG

L

GAA

E

CTA

L

GAG

E

CCG

P

GTT

V

CTG

E

AAA

K

CTG

L

TGT

C

CAT

H

GGT

G

GAT

D

CTC

L

GCA

A

GCT

A

CGT

Q V R K 1 Q G CTG TGC GCT ACT TAO AAA CTG L C A T Y K L CTG GGT CAT TCT CTT GGG ATC L G H S L G I CCA TCT CAA GCT CT? CAG CTG P S Q A L Q L TOT GGT CTG TTC CTG TAT CAG S G L F L Y Q ATC TCT CCG GAA CTG GGT CCG I S P E L G P GTA GOT GAC TTT GOT ACT ACT V A D F A T T GGT ATG GCA CCA GCT CTG CAA G M A P A L Q TTC GOT TOT GCA TTC CAG CGT F A S A F Q R TCT CAT CTG CAA TCT TTC CTG S H L Q S F L CAT CTG GCT CAG CCG TAA TAG D G A TGC CAT COG C H P CCG TGG GCT P W A GCT GGT TGT A G C GGT CTT CTG G L L ACT CTG GAC T L D AT? TGG CAA I W a COG ACT CAA P T Q CGT GCA GGA R A G GAA GTA TCT E V S P Q S F L Y R V L R H L A Q P (This was also the non-pegylated composition used for the control animals.) Alternatively one may use purchased NeupogenO for the following pegylation procedures (the package insert -for which is herein incorporated by reference).

B. Pr~f-]aration of Peavlated r,-CSF A 10 mg/ml solution of the above rh-G-CSF, in 100 mM Bicine pH 8.0, was added to solid SCM-beEG (N-hydroxy succinimidyl esters of carboxymethyl methoxy polyethylene glycol) (Union Carbide) with an average 27 molecular weight of 6000 Daltons. This gave a 1.5 molar excess of SCM-MPEG to rh-G-CSF. After one hour with gentle stirring, the mixture was diluted to 2 mg/ml with sterile water, and the pH was adjusted to 4.0 with dilute HC1. The reaction was carried out at room temperature. At this stage, the reaction mixture consisted mainly of three forms of mono-pegylated rh-G- CSF, some di-pegylated rh-G-CSF, unmodified rh-G-CSF and reaction bi-product (N-hydroxy succinimide).

C. Preparation of N-terminally Pecvlated rh-G-CSF The three forms of monopegylated rh-G-CSF were separated from each other using ion exchange chromatography. The reaction mixture was loaded (1 mg protein/ml resin) onto a Pharmacia S Sepharose FF column (Pharmacia XK50/30 reservoir, bed volume of 440 ml) equilibrated in buffer A (20 mM sodium acetate, pH The column was washed with 3 column volumes of buffer A.

The protein was eluted using a linear gradient from 0- 23% buffer B (20 mM sodium acetate, pH 4.0, 1M NaCI) in column volumes. The column was then washed with one column volume of 100% buffer B and reequilibrated with 3 column volumes of buffer A. The flow rate for the entire run was maintained at 8 ml/min. The eluent was monitored at 280 nm and 5 ml fractions were collected.

Fractions containing the individual monopegylated species were pooled according to FIGURE 1A. These pools were concentrated with a 350 mL Amicon stirred cell using a YM10 76 mm membrane.

Pooled fractions from the ion exchange chromatography were subjected to size exclusion chromatography to separate di-pegylated species from monopegylated species. Typically, 5-10 mg in 2-5 ml of solution were loaded onto a 120 ml Pharmacia Superdex 75 HR 16/60 column equilibrated with 20 mM sodium 28 Soo* a. 0 0.0.0 .00.

acetate pH 4.0. The column was run at 1.5 ml/min for 100 min. Two ml fractions were collected. The protein content of the eluent was monitored at 280 nm.

Fractions from separated peaks were pooled and subjected to analysis. The table below compares the proportional yields for each peak.

TABLE 1 Relative Yields and Site of Modification Figure IA Site of Modification Reference Relative Yields N-Terminus Peak 1A 3 Peak 2A 2 Lysine-41 Peak 3A 1 Under these conditions, the lysines at positions 17 and 24 probably were not significantly pegylated.

D. Characterization Five analyses were done to characterize each sample: SDS-Page (Figure 1B), Size exclusion chromatography HPLC ("SEC HPLC") (Figure peptide mapping analysis (Figures 3A, 3B, and in vitro G-CSF bioassay (Figure and in vivo testing in hamster (Figures 5A and With regard to the composition of each sample, results demonstrate that, of the N-terminally monopegylated G-CSF, the samples showed a greater than 95% N-terminally pegylated composition, with the remainder probably being unpegylated material (although the remainder of the samples is lower than the detection limit of the assay). With regard to the percent monopegylated for each of the three types of monopegylated material (N-terminal, pegylated at lysine and pegylated at lysine 41), the N-terminal and the lysine 41 demonstrated greater than 97% monopegylated, 29 and the lysine 35 pegylated material being somewhat lower, probably due to the instability of the molecule in the assay conditions. To summarize, the following results were obtained: TABLE 2 Percent Composition of N-terminally Pnevlated G-CSF

S

S S Non-Reduced N-Terminal SDS PAGE SEC HPLC Sequencina* Mono-pegylated G-CSF 97.44 99.43 96.6 Unmodified G-CSF 2.56 0.57 3.4 10 The N-terminal sequencing, as discussed infra is not here considered quantitative, as there may have been artifactual separation of the polyethylene glycol molecule from the N-terminus of the protein during the sequencing process.

TABLE 3 Percent Monopeavlated for Three Species N-terminal LYS35 PEG- LYS41 PEG-GCSF GCSF** PEG-GCSF (RI/UV=.96)* (RI/UV=.72) (RI/UV=1.12) Non-reduced SDS-PAGE 97.44 77.41 100.00 SEC HPLC 99.43 93.38 99.96 RI/UV refers to the Index of Refraction/Ultraviolet light absorbance ratio, and is used to estimate the number of polyethylene glycol molecules per molecule of protein. It is calculated from the SEC HPLC data using 30 an Index of Refraction for polyethylene glycol and an ultraviolet absorbance for protein.

Note that this species is unstable under the assay conditions used.

METHODS

1. SDS-PAGE. SDS-PAGE was carried out in a non-reduced 4-20% ISS Daiichi Pure Chemicals, Co., Tokyo, Japan minigel using a Coomassie Brillant Blue R-250 stain. The gel was scanned using a molecular Dynamics Densitometer with Image Quant.

Results: Results are presented in FIGURE 1B. Lane number 1 (from the left hand side) included molecular weight protein standards (Novex Mark 12 Molecular Weight Standards). Lane 2 contains 3 jig rh-G-CSF standard.

Lane 3 contains the SCM-PEG-GCSF reaction mix, with p Sig loaded. Lane 4 contains N-terminally monopegylated G-CSF, with 10 gg loaded. Lane 5 contains 10 gg of 20 monopegylated G-CSF with the pegylation site at the lysine found at the 35th residue from the N-terminal methionine. Lane 6 contains 10 ig of monopegylated G-CSF with the pegylation site at the lysine found at the 41st residue from the N-terminal methionine. As can be seen, Lane 3, containing the N-terminally monopegylated material, shows a single band 2. Size Exclusion Chromatoaraohv-Hiah Pressure Liquid Chromatoarahvy. SEC-HPLC was carried out using a Waters HPLC system with a Biosep SEC 3000 column, using 100 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.9, Iml/min for 20 minutes. The signal was monitored at 280 nm.

Results: As can be seen from Figure 2, line containing the N-terminally monopegylated rh-G-CSF contains a single peak, as do lines monopegylated material) and (Lys-41 monopegylated 31 material). This indicates substantial purity among the separated fractions of monopegylated G-CSF.

3. Peptide mapping. The following methods were used. Three samples, called "Mono-PEG "Mono- PEG-2", and "Mono-PEG-3", were analyzed. Reductive alkylation. 500 gg aliquots of mono-PEG G-CSF were speed vac dried and reconstituted to a concentration of 1 mg in 950 3l in 0.3 M Tris-HCl containing 6 M Guanidinum HC1 and 1 mM EDTA pH 8.4. Samples were then 10 S-carboxymethylated by adding iodoacetic acid and incubated at 37C for 20 minutes. Samples were then desalted using Sephadex G-25 Quick Spin Protein Columns and buffer exchanged. After desalting and buffer exchange, sample concentration was adjusted to 0.5 mg/ml 15 using additional buffer. Endoproteinase SV8 digestion. Samples were digested with SV8 (enzyme to substrate ratio of 1:25) at 25°C for 26 hours.(c) HPLC peptide mapping. Protein digests were injected onto a .Vydac C4 column (4.6 x 250 mm, 5 p particle size, 300 A 20 pore size) and peptides were mapped by HPLC using a linear gradient of acetonitrile in 0.1% TFA. Peptides were manually collected and dried in a Speed Vac for sequence analysis. Results: As compared to a reference standard, (FIGURE 3A) for "Mono-PEG-1", (the Nterminally mono-pegylated material), a peak at 57.3 minutes diminished and a new peak appeared at 77.5 minutes; (ii) (FIGURE 3B) for "Mono-PEG-2", (the lysine pegylated material), there was a decrease in peak height for a peptide with a retention time of 30.3 minutes, and a new peak eluted at 66.3 minutes; (iii) (FIGURE 3C) for "Mono-PEG-3" (the lysine 41 pegylated material), the peak at retention time of 30.3 minutes was missing, and a new peak appeared at 66.4 minutes.

These peptides were the only significant differences in the sample maps. There were some small incomplete 32 cleavages seen on either side of the peptide at 86.1 minutes due to minor digestion differences. terminal sequence analysis. Each of the "new" peptides in the above maps were N-terminally sequenced for identification. The dried peptides were reconstituted in 0.1% TFA and sequenced on an ABI protein sequencer.

For "Mono-PEG-1" (the N-terminally pegylated material), of the "new" peak (at 77.5 minutes) was sequenced for 10 cycles. The initial yield was less than indicating that the N-terminal methionyl residue is blocked by a polyethylene glycol molecule. It is noted that this initial peptide should have resulted in a zero ~initial yield, and the yield observed may be from detachment of the polyethylene glycol from the N- 15 terminal methionyl during sequence analysis. The sequence detected was that of the N-terminal peptide, M-T-P-L-G-P-A-S-S. For "Mono-PEG-2", (the lysine pegylated material), 80% of the total peak volume was collected for the peak at 66.3 minutes, and was 20 sequenced for 9 cycles. The recovery of lysine 35 was significantly low, indicating pegylation at position The recovery of lysine 41 was consistent with the other residue, indicating no modification of this position.

S" The peptide at 30.3 minutes decreased in peak height compared to the corresponding peak in the standard reference map. The peptide at 30.3 minutes is only 57.5% of the peak area of the corresponding peptide.

The sequence detected for this species was K-L-C-A-T-Y-K-L. For "Mono-PEG-3", the lysine 41 material, 80% of the total peak volume collected for the peptide eluting-at 66.4 minutes was sequenced for 9 cycles. The sequence detected was K-L-C-A-T'Y-K-L, and contained lysine residues 35 and 41. The recovery of lysine 35 was consistent with other residue recoveries.

The recovery of lysine 41 was significantly lower 33 indicating pegylation at position 41. Results: "Mono- PEG-1" is N-terminally monopegylated material; "Mono- PEG-2" is lysine 35 partially pegylated; and "Mono-PEG- 3" is lysine 41 pegylated material. By comparing both the reference standard (non-pegylated G-CSF) and GCSF monopegylated 1, 2, and 3 peptide maps, it was found that both the "Mono-PEG-2" (lysine 35) and "Mono-PEG-3" (lysine 41) maps exhibit slightly diminished peak heights for the N-terminal peptide. This indicates that the lysine 35 and lysine 41 material contains a small amount of N-terminally pegylated material or that the N-terminal methionine has a small percentage of pegylation.

4. In vitro activity. The material was 15 active. FIGURE 4 illustrates the results of in vitro assays. As can-be seen, the N-terminally monopegylated material had 68% of the activity of non-modified rhG-CSF.

Methods: The G-CSF in vitro bioassay is a mitogenic 20 assay utilizing a G-CSF dependent clone of murine 32D cells. Cells were maintained in Iscoves medium containing 5% FBS and 20 ng/ml rhG-CSF. Prior to sample addition, cells were prepared by rinsing twice with S"growth medium lacking rhG-CSF. An extended twelve point rhG-CSF standard curve was prepared, ranging from 48 to (equivalent to 4800 to 50 IU/ml). Four dilutions, estimated to fall within the linear portion of the standard curve, (1000 to 3000 IU/ml), were prepared for each sample and run in triplicate. Because of their apparent lower activity in vitr, the pegylated rhG-CSF samples were diluted approximately 4-10 times less. A volume of 40l of each dilution of sample or standard is added to appropriate wells of a 96 well microtiter plate containing 10,000 cells/well. After forty-eight hours at 37 0 C and 5.5% C02, 0.5p.mCi of 34 methyl-3H-thymidine was added to each well. Eighteen hours later, the plates were then harvested and counted.

A dose response curve (log rhG-CSF concentration vs.

CPM-background) was generated and linear regression analysis of points which fall in the linear portion of the standard curve was performed. Concentrations of unknown test samples were determined using the resulting linear equation and correction for the dilution factor.

Results: Results are presented in FIGURE 4. As can be 10 seen, of the three monopegylated species, N-terminally monopegylated G-CSF demonstrates the highest in vitro biological activity.

5. In vivo activity. In vivo testing confirmed the activity of the N-terminally pegylated material. The in vivo testing was carried out by dosing male golden hamsters with a 0.1 mg/kg of sample, using a single subcutaneous injection. Four animals were subjected to terminal bleeds per group per time point.

Serum samples were subject to a complete blood count on 20 the same day that the samples were collected. The average white blood cell counts were calculated. As can be seen in FIGURES 5A and 5B, the response from each material peaks after one day following a single subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mg/kg. Two of the monopegylated materials, (N-terminal and Lys-35) showed prolonged responses, while the response for the protein pegylated at lysine-41 showed no increase in in vivo activity over unmodified rhG-CSF (indeed it shows less, FIGURE 5B). These results illustrate that attaching a single polyethylene glycol molecule can dramatically alter the therapeutic profile of a protein and that the benefit of pegylating a protein can be dependent upon the site of modification. (The net average WBC area under the curve after the single subcutaneous injection (calculated according to CRC Standard Mathematical 35 Tables, 26th Ed. (Beyer, Ed.) CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton, FL 1981. p. 125) was similar for the Lys-35 and N-terminal monopegylated species.) E. Stability Studies In addition, stability studies were performed on the N-terminal and Lys-35 monopegylated species as prepared above. (The Lys-41 material was not used as it demonstrated no additional activity beyond unmodified G-CSF). These studies demonstrate that the N-terminally pegylated G-CSF is unexpectedly more stable upon storage than the other form of monopegylated

G-CSF,

monopegylated lysine 35. Stability was assessed in terms of breakdown of product, as visualized using 15 SEC-HPLC.

Methods: N-terminally pegylated G-CSF and monopegylated G-CSF were studied in two pH levels, pH 4.0 and pH 6.0 at 4 0 C, each for up to 16 days.

Elevating the pH to 6.0 provides an environment for 20 accelerated stability assays. For the pH 6.0 samples, N-terminal monopegylated G-CSF and Lysine monopegylated G-CSF as prepared above were placed in a buffer containing 20 mM sodium phosphate, 5 mM sodium acetate, 2.5 mannitol, 0.005 Tween-80, pH 6.0 at a final protein concentration of 0.25 mg/ml. One ml aliquots were stored in 3 ml sterile injection vials.

Vials of each was stored at 4 0 C and 29 0 C for up to 16 days. Stability was assessed by SEC-HPLC tracings.

If the later measurements stayed the same (as ascertained by visual inspection) as the initial (Time 0) measurements, the sample was considered to be stable for that length of time.

Results: Results are illustrated in FIGURES 6A-6C.

Comparison at pH 6.0 at 4 0 C. FIGURE 6A shows the 4°C SEC-HPLC profiles for N-terminally monopegylated 36 G-CSF at pH 6 over time and FIGURE 6B shows the 4 0

C

SEC-HPLC profiles for lysine-35 monopegylated G-CSF at pH 6 over time. One interpretation is that the material is breaking down to a material with a molecular weight similar to that of unmodified G-CSF.

Extended duration at pH 4.0 at 4 0 C. PH 4.0 and 4 0

C

provides something of a control illustrating relatively stable conditions in that the N-terminal species shows no degradation. For the Lys 35 species, the break down of the material is still occurring, but at a much slower rate.

Comparison at pH 6.0 at 4 0 C. FIGURES 6C illustrates the SEC-HPLC profiles for the monopegylated G-CSF's under these conditions, under extended time periods. As can be seen, at pH 6.0 and 4 0 C, the lysine-35 material exhibits no increase in depegylation at day 16 or day beyond what was seen for day 6 (FIGURE 6B). This indicates that depegylation (instability) does not change, under those conditions, beyond day 6.

2. EXAMPLE 2 This example demonstrates a method of preparing a substantially homogenous population of monopegylated G-CSF using reductive alkylation, and characterization of this population. Recombinant G-CSF as described in the above example was used. As can be seen, not only do the present methods provide advantages in terms of yield of N-terminally chemically modified material, but also, the amine linkages of the present reductive alkylation process produce substantially more stable products as demonstrated by a large difference in the degree of aggregation upon storage.

37 A. Preparation of the mono-methoxvpolyethyl-ene gylcol-GCSF conjugates with the site of attachment at the N-terminal a-amino residue.

To a cooled (4 oC),stirred solution of rhG-CSF (1 ml, 5 mg/ml as described in the Example above) in 100 mM sodium phosphate, pH 5, containing 20 mM NaCNBH3, was added a 5-fold molar excess of methoxypolyethylene glycol aldehyde (MPEG)(average molecular weight, 6 kDa).

The stirring of the reaction mixture was continued at the same temperature.

The extent of the protein modification during the course of the reaction was monitored by SEC HPLC using Bio-Sil SEC 250-5 column (BIO-RAD) eluted with 0.05 M NaH2PO4,0.05 M Na2HP04,0.15 M NaC1, 0.01 M NaN3, 15 pH 6.8 at 1 ml/min.

After 10 hours the SEC HPLC analysis indicated that 92% of the protein has been converted to the mono-MPEG-GCSF derivative. This can be seen in FIGURE 7, which is a recording of the protein concentration (as determined by absorbance at A280) and shows the peak eluting at 8.72 minutes as monopegylated G-CSF, and a minor peak of unreacted G-CSF eluting at 9.78 minutes.

As a comparison, FIGURE 8 shows the peaks obtained when using N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of MPEG.

The molecular weight was also 6kDa. As can be seen, the mixture obtained from this reaction was: tri-MPEG-GCSF conjugated (shoulder at approximately 7.25 minutes), di-MPEG-GCSF conjugate (peak at 7.62 minutes), mono-MPEG-GCSF conjugate (peak at 8.43 minutes) and unreacted G-CSF (peak at 9.87 minutes).

At this 10 hour time point, where 92% of the protein had been converted to monopegylated material, the pH of the reaction mixture was adjusted to pH 4 with 100 mM HC1 and the reaction mixture was diluted 5 times with 1 mM HC1.

38 The mono-MPEG-GCSF derivative was purified by ion exchange chromatography using HiLoad 16/10 S Sepharose HP column (Pharmacia) equilibrated with 20 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 4. The reaction mixture was loaded on the column at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and the unreacted MPEG aldehyde eluted with three column volumes of the same buffer. Then a linear 400 minute gradient from 0% to 45% 20 mM sodium acetate, pH 4, containing 1 M NaC1 was used to the elute the protein-polymer conjugate at 4oC.

*o Fractions containing the mono-MPEG-GCSF derivative were pooled, concentrated and sterile filtered.

Various mono-MPEG-GCSF conjugates obtained by 15 modifying rh-G-CSF with MPEG aldehydes of different average molecular weight (12, 20 and 25 kDa) were prepared in a similar manner.

B. Analysis of Monoeaylated G-CSF 20 1. Molecular Weight The molecular weight at the monopegylated conjugates was determined by SDS-PAGE, gel filtration, matrix assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry, and equilibrium centrifugation. These results are presented in Table 4, below.

39 TABLE 4 Molecular Weiahts of N-terminally Alkylated Mono-MREG-GCSF Conjlugates Conjugate M gel W4 mass W4 ultraisstimsted filtration soactonta cent rifqto (6kD&) 24800 53024 24737 25548

QCSF

MPEG-

(12kDa) 30800 124343 30703 29711

GCSF

MPEG-

(25kD&) 43800 333266 14/D N/D

GCSF

0 0000 0 *0 0* 0 *009 .0.0 ~0 *0 .9 0 0* 00 0* 0* The structure of the prepared mono-MPEG-GCSF conjugates was confirmed methods of N-terminal protein sequencinq N-terminal using the and peptide mapping. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of the N-terminal 10 methionyl residue resulted in removal of the polyethylene glycol.

2. Biological-Activity The .in v.itZro biological activity of the pegylated MPEG-GCSF conjugates 'was determined by measuring the stimulated uptake of 3Hi thymidine, into mouse bone marrow cells.

The invivo biological activity was determined by subcutaneous injection to hamsters MPEG-GCSF conjugates or rhG-CSF (at 100mg/kg) and measuring total white blood cell count.- Bioactivity as compared to non-derivatized G-CSF was calculated as the area under 40 the WBC/time curve after subtracting the vehicle control curve. Relative bioactivity of the MPEG-GCSF derivatives was expressed as the percentage bioactivity compared to unmodified G-CSF.

This is illustrated in FIGURE 9, which is a graph illustrating the total white blood cell response to mono-N-terminal MPEG-GCSF conjugates prepared by reductive alkylation of rhG-CF with MPEG aldehydes of different molecular weights (6kDa, 12kDa, and As can be seen, all monopegylated molecules elicited a response. The higher the molecular weight of the polyethylene glycol moiety used, the higher the white blood cell count achieved, except the 12kDa achieved a slightly higher count than did the 20kDa version at 15 day 2.

S- 3. Stability Studies N-terminally pegylated G-CSF's prepared by the two different chemistries (amide vs. amine of the 20 reductive alkylation here) were compared for the degree of aggregation. Unexpectedly, N-terminally pegylated G-CSF using the amine chemistry was found to be substantially more stable than N-terminally pegylated SG-CSF with an amide linkage (NHS chemistry as described in Example 1).

Methods: Both N-terminally pegylated G-CSF samples were in 10 mM NaOac pH4.0 with 5% sorbitol, at a concentration of 1mg protein/mi. The G-CSF's were pegylated with PEG 6000 for each. The amide-linked conjugate was prepared as in Example 1, and the amine linked conjugate was prepared as in Example 2. Six samples of each were stored for eight weeks at 45 0 C. At the end of eight weeks, the degree of aggregation was determined using size exclusion chromatography and ion exchange chromatography.

41 Results: The results demonstrate that the present reductive alkylation methodis advantageous over aceylation because, surprisingly, it produces a material with far fewer aggregates after 8 weeks at elevated temperatures. The table below shows the percent of non-aggregated material ("main peak" material) for both materials using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) or ion exchange (IE): 10 TABLE g e.

4 C

C.

S@

C

9 0

C

*9 Sco 0* S 0*84 0 Sample:8 wks, 45 0 C Main Peak

SEC/IE

Amine 82%/84% Amide 37%/65%* This is relatively high because ion exchange does not allow for full analysis of the aggregation.

15 EXAMPLE 3 This example demonstrates chemically modified consensus interferon. More specifically, this example demonstrates a method of preparing a substantially homogenous population of monopegylated IFN-con 1 and characterization of this population.

It should be noted that while the present example uses IFN-conl, any of the consensus interferons as set forth above may be chemically modified. Such chemical modification may be with any of the water soluble polymers as listed above, although PEG is used here. For pegylation, PEG 12000 is used here, although any water soluble PEG species may be used (PEG 12000 was selected for ease in handling and convenience). Again, a variety of means for chemical modification are available (such as acetylation) but, for selective N- 42 terminal chemical modification, such as N-terminal pegylation, the present reductive alkylation method as described in this example is preferred.

A. Preparation of Consensus Interferon IFN-aconI (here referred to as IFN-conl) as described in Figure 2 of U.S. Patent No. 4,695,623, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, was used for the preparation of monopegylated consensus interferon. The IFN-conl was produced by expression of exogenous DNA in bacteria, and contained a methionyl residue at the N-terminus.

B. Pevylation of Consensus Interferon *15 To a cooled (4 oC), stirred solution of IFNcon (3.45 mg/ml, containing 35.25% of the N-terminally blocked form) in 100 mM sodium phosphate, pH containing 20 mM NaCNBH3 was added a 8-fold molar excess of methoxypolyethylene glycol aldehyde (MPEG) (average molecular weight 12 kDa).

The extent of the protein modification during the course of the reaction was monitored by reverse phase HPLC using a polymer-based poly(styrene/divinylbenzene) column, such as PLRP-S (PL 25 Separation Sciences Polymer Laboratories).

After 10 hours the reverse phase HPLC analysis indicated that 80% of the protein with unblocked a-amino group at the N-terminus has been converted to the MPEG-IFN-conl derivative.

At the 10 hour time point, the reaction mixture was diluted 5 times with water and the mono-MPEG-IFN-ConI derivative was purified by ion exchange chromatography using HiLoad 16/10 S Sepharose HP column (Pharmacia) equilibrated with 20 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 4.0. The reaction mixture was loaded 43 on the column at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and the unreacted MPEG aldehyde eluted with three column volumes of the same buffer. Then a linear 420 minute gradient from 0% to 75% of 20 mM sodium acetate, pH containing 1 M NaCl was used to the elute the proteinpolymer conjugate at 4 0

C.

Fractions containing the mono-MPEG-IFN-Con 1 derivative were pooled, concentrated and sterile filtered.

C. Analysis of Monopecvlated Consensus Interferon 1. Homoeneity The homogeneity of the purified mono-MPEG-IFN-Coni conjugates was determined by SDS-PAGE 15 using 10-20% or 4-20% precast gradient gels (Integrated Separation Systems). The gels showed a main band at MW kDa.

To characterize the effective size (hydrodynamic radius) of each mono-MPEG-IFN-conl species a Superose 6 HR 10/30 (Pharmacia) gel filtration column was used. Proteins were detected by UV absorbance at 280 nm. The BIO-RAD gel filtration standards served as globular protein molecular weight markers.

:The structure of the purified N-terminal 25 mono-MPEG-IFN-coni conjugates was confirmed using the o methods of N-terminal protein sequencing and peptide mapping.

It is noted that this IFN-conI preparation contained some N-terminally blocked material, and this material was not pegylated. The material which was pegylated, however, was monopegylated at the N-terminus.

Thus, in this type of situation, one may wish to use other means to separate the blocked from the unblocked material, such as ion exchange or size exclusion chromatography.

44 2. Biological Activity The in vitro biological activity of the mono-MPEG-IFN Coni conjugates was determined by measuring their antiviral bioactivity. The in vitrn biological activity of the mono-MPEG-IFN-ConI conjugates was determined by measuring their antiviral bioactivity in human (HeLa) cells.

It was found that the mono-MPEG (12 kDa)-IFN- Coni conjugate shows 20% in vitro bioactivity (in U/mg of protein) when compared to the unmodified species. As noted above for pegylated G-CSF, the in vitro assays, while useful to demonstrate biological activity, may show a rather low level of activity for chemically 15 modified proteins because of characteristic sustained release. The in vivo biological activity may be higher than the in vitro biological activity.

D. Chemically modified consensus interferon with the N-terminally blocked molecules removed The present reductive alkylation was also performed on the above IFN-coni which had the portion of N-terminally blocked molecules pre-removed. Both PEG 12000 and PEG 20000 were used in the reductive 25 alkylation method as described above.

The molecular apparent molecular weights were as follow: Apparent MW by Apparent MW by Coniugate Gel Filtration SDS-PAGE monoMPEG(12kDa) 104.0 kDa 35.6 kDa IFN-conl 175.1 kDa 55.4 kDa IFN-coni_ 45 Analysis of the IFN-conl 20 kDa PEG conjugate using FPLC ion exchange chromatography resulted in three peaks: MonoMPEG-IFN-con1: 66% of the total area (eluting at 265.93 ml) Protein aggregate and oligo MPEG-IFN-con 1 conjugate: 24% of the total area (eluting at 238.42 ml); and Unreacted IFN-conl: 10% of the total area (eluting at 328.77 ml).

The conditions were not further optimized. One may further separate the monopegylated material using chromatographic or other methods.

15 While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it is understood that variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims cover all such equivalent variations which come 20 within the scope of the invention as claimed.

46 SEQUENCE LISTING GENERAL INFORMATION: APPLICANT: AMGEN INC.

(ii) TITLE OF. INVENTION: N-Terminally Chemically Modified Protein Composition and Methods (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 2 (iv) CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: ADDRESSEE: Amgen Inc.

STREET: 1640 Dehavillarid Drive CITY: Thousand Oaks STATE: California COUNTRY: USA ZIP: 91320 COMPUTER READABLE FORM: MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS SOFTWARE: Patentln Release Version #1.25 (vi) CURRENT APPLICATION DATA: APPLICATION NUMBER: FILING. DATE:

CLASSIFICATION:

Cviii) ATTORNEY/AGENT INFORMATION: NAME: Pessin, Karol M.

CC) REFERENCE/DOCKET NUMBER: A-286 INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID 140:1: SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 531 base pairs TYPE: nucleic acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA 47 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:

ATGACTCCAT

CAGGTTCGTA

AAACTGTGCC

CCGCTGTCTT

TCTGGTCTGT

GGTCCGACTC

CAGATGGAAG

TTCGCTTCTG

TTCCTGGAAG

TAGGTCCTGC

ALATCCAGGG

ATCCGGAAGA

CTTGTCCATC

TCCTGTATCA

TGGACACTCT

AGCTCGGTAT

CATTCCAGCG

TATCTTACCG

TTCTTCTCTG

TGACGGTGCT

GCTGGTACTG

TCAAGCTCTT

GGGTCTTCTG

GCAGCTAGAT

GGCACCAGCT

TCGTGCAGGA

CCGCAAAGCT

GCACTGCAALG

CTGGGTCATT

CAGCTGGCTG

CAAGCTCTGG

GTAGCTGACT

CTGCAACCGA

GGTGTACTGG

TTCTGCTGAA

AAAAACTGTG

CTCTTGGGAT

GTTGTCTGTC

AAGGTATCTC

TTGCTACTAC

CTCAAGGTGC

TTGCTTCTCA

ATGTCTGGAA.

CGCTACTTAC

CCCGTGGGCT

TCAACTGCAT

TCCGGAACTG

TATTTGGCAA

TATGCCGGCA.

TCTGCAATCT

U S TGTTCTGCGT CATCTGGCTC AGCCGTAATA G INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2: Ci) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: LENGTH: 175 amino acids TYPE: amino acid STRANDEDNESS: single TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) met 1 Lys SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2: Thr Pro Leu Gly Pro Ala Ser Ser Leu 5 10 Cy3 Leu Glu Gin Val Arg Lys Ile GLn 201r Pro Gin Ser Phe Leu Leu is Gly Asp Gly Gln Gin Lys Len Cys Ala Thr Lys Len Cys His Ala Ala Len Glu Gin Leu Len Ser Ser Val Len so Leu Gly His Ser Gly Ile Pro Trp Cys Pro Ser Gin Ala Gin Len Ala Gly Cys Leu 5cr Gin Gin Ala Leu Gin Leu Gly Ser Gly Leu Phe Leu Tyr Gin Gly Len Leu 90 48 Ser Pro Glu Leu Gly Pro Thr Lau Asp Thr Leu Gin Lou Asp Val Ala 100 105 110 Asp Ph. Ala Thr Thr Ile Trp Gin Gin Met Giu Giu, Leu Gly Met Ala 115 120 125 Pro Ala Lou Gin Pro Thr Gin Gly Ala Met Pro Ala Ph. Ala Ser Ala 130 135 140 Phe Gin Ar; Ar; Ala Gly Gly Val Leu Val Ala Ser His Leu Gin Ser 145 150 155 160 Phe Leu Gin Val Ser Tyr Arg Val Len Ar; His Leu Ala Gin Pro 165 170 175

Claims (25)

1. Chemically modified consensus interferon comprised of a consensus interferon protein moiety connected to at least one water soluble polymer moiety.

2. A chemically modified consensus interferon of Claim 1 wherein said consensus interferon is selected from the group consisting of IFN-con i IFN-con 2 and IFN-con 3

3. A chemically modified consensus interferon of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said water soluble polymer is pharmaceutically acceptable.

4. A chemically modified consensus interferon of any one of the preceding claims wherein said water soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of dextran, 10 poly(n-vinyl pyurrolidone), polyethylene glycols, propropylene gylcol homopolymers, prolypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymers, polyoxyethylated polyols and polyvinyl alcohols.

5. A chemically modified consensus interferon according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said water soluble polymer moiety is polyethylene glycol. S* 15

6. A chemically modified consensus interferon according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said water soluble polymer moiety is connected to said consensus interferon moiety directly without an additional linkage group.

7. A chemically modified consensus interferon comprised of IFN-coni connected to at least one polyethylene glycol moiety.

8. Pegylated consensus interferon.

9. A method for attaching a water soluble polymer to consensus interferon, wherein said water soluble polymer has a single reactive aldehyde group, said method comprising: reacting a consensus interferon moiety with a water soluble polymer moiety under reducing alkylation conditions, at a pH sufficiently acidic to selectively activate the a-amino group at the amino terminus of said consensus interferon moiety; and obtaining the reaction product and optionally, separating the reaction products from unreacted moieties.

A method of Claim 9 wherein said polymer is pharmaceutically acceptable.

11. A method of Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein said water soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of dextran, poly(n-vinyl pyurrolidone), polyethylene glycols, propropylene glycol homopolymers, prolypropylene oxide/ethylene oxide co-polymers, 10 polyoxyethylated polyols and polyvinyl alcohols.

12. A method of any one of Claims 9 to 11 wherein said polymer is polyethylene 9.. glycol. S*

13. A method of any one of Claims 9 to 12 wherein said reducing alkylation reaction involves the use of a reducing agent selected from sodium borohydride, sodium 15 cyanoborohydride, dimethylamine borate, trimethylamine borate and pyridine borate.

14. A method for attaching a polyethylene glycol molecule to a consensus interferon 9 molecule, wherein said polyethylene glycol molecule has a single reactive aldehyde .9 group, said method comprising: reacting said consensus interferon with said polyethylene glycol molecule under reducing alkylation conditions, at a pH sufficiently acidic to selectively activate the a-amino group at the amino terminus of said consensus interferon; and obtaining the pegylated consensus interferon and -51- optionally, separating the pegylated consensus interferon from non-pegylated consensus interferon.

A method of Claim 14 wherein said polyethylene glycol molecule has a molecular weight of about 2 kDa to about 100 kDa.

16. The pegylated consensus interferon product produced by the process of Claim 14 or

17. A substantially homogenous preparation of monopegylated consensus interferon.

18. A preparation of Claim 17 comprising about 90% monopegylated consensus 9 interferon and about 10% unpegylated consensus interferon. 10

19. A pharmaceutical composition comprising: I(a) a substantially homogenous preparation of monopegylated consensus So..interferon, said monopegylated consensus interferon consisting of a polyethylene glycol moiety connected to a consensus interferon moiety solely at the N-terminus thereof in an amine linkage; fewer than 5% non-pegylated consensus interferon molecules; and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, adjuvant or carrier.

20. A chemically modified consensus interferon, substantially as herein described with reference to one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples.

21. Pegylated consensus interferon, substantially as herein described with reference to one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples. I -52-

22. A method for attaching a water soluble polymer to consensus interferon, substantially as herein described with reference to one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples.

23. A method for attaching a polyethylene glycol molecule to a consensus interferon molecule, substantially as herein described with reference to one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples.

24. A substantially homogenous preparation of monopegylated consensus interferon, substantially as herein described with reference to one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples. *too tato* 10

25. A pharmaceutical composition comprising monopegylated consensus interferon, substantially as herein described with reference to one or more of the examples but excluding comparative examples. Datedthis 22nd Day of September, 1999 AMGEN INC 2* 15 Attorney: IVAN A. RAJKOVIC Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS