Classifications

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  • A61K31/41—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having five-membered rings with two or more ring hetero atoms, at least one of which being nitrogen, e.g. tetrazole
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  • A61K31/7012—Compounds having a free or esterified carboxyl group attached, directly or through a carbon chain, to a carbon atom of the saccharide radical, e.g. glucuronic acid, neuraminic acid
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  • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • A61K38/177—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
  • A61K38/179—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants for growth factors; for growth regulators
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  • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
  • A61K47/08—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite containing oxygen, e.g. ethers, acetals, ketones, quinones, aldehydes, peroxides
  • A61K47/10—Alcohols; Phenols; Salts thereof, e.g. glycerol; Polyethylene glycols [PEG]; Poloxamers; PEG/POE alkyl ethers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
  • A61K47/08—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite containing oxygen, e.g. ethers, acetals, ketones, quinones, aldehydes, peroxides
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• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
  • A61K47/16—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite containing nitrogen, e.g. nitro-, nitroso-, azo-compounds, nitriles, cyanates
  • A61K47/18—Amines; Amides; Ureas; Quaternary ammonium compounds; Amino acids; Oligopeptides having up to five amino acids
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• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
  • A61K47/22—Heterocyclic compounds, e.g. ascorbic acid, tocopherol or pyrrolidones
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61K47/06—Organic compounds, e.g. natural or synthetic hydrocarbons, polyolefins, mineral oil, petrolatum or ozokerite
  • A61K47/26—Carbohydrates, e.g. sugar alcohols, amino sugars, nucleic acids, mono-, di- or oligo-saccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. polysorbates, sorbitan fatty acid esters or glycyrrhizin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0019—Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
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  • A61K9/08—Solutions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
  • A61K9/19—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles lyophilised, i.e. freeze-dried, solutions or dispersions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P7/00—Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P9/00—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants
  • C07K14/71—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants for growth factors; for growth regulators
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
  • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
  • C07K16/22—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against growth factors ; against growth regulators
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2318/00—Antibody mimetics or scaffolds
  • C07K2318/20—Antigen-binding scaffold molecules wherein the scaffold is not an immunoglobulin variable region or antibody mimetics
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2319/00—Fusion polypeptide
  • C07K2319/30—Non-immunoglobulin-derived peptide or protein having an immunoglobulin constant or Fc region, or a fragment thereof, attached thereto
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A50/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
  • Y02A50/30—Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to pharmaceutical formulations comprising agents capable of inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and to methods for making and using such formulations.
• VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor
• the invention includes pharmaceutical formulations having increased stability.
• VEGF Vascular endothelial growth factor
• Blockade of VEGF function by binding to the molecule or its VEGFR-2 receptor, inhibits growth of implanted tumor cells in multiple different xenograft models (see, for example, Gerber et al. (2000) Cancer Res. 60:6253-6258).
• a soluble VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist termed a “VEGF trap” has been described (Kim et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:11399-404; Holash et al. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:11393-8), which applications are specifically incorporated by reference in their entirety.
• Lyophilization freeze drying under controlled conditions
• the lyophilized protein is substantially resistant to degradation, aggregation, oxidation, and other degenerative processes while in the freeze-dried state (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,897).
• Stable formulations of a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist are herein provided.
• the pharmaceutically acceptable formulations of the invention comprise the VEGF “trap” antagonist with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• liquid and freeze-dried, or lyophilized formulations are provided.
• the invention features a stable liquid formulation of a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist, comprising a fusion protein comprising a receptor component consisting essentially of an immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domain 2 of a first VEGF receptor and Ig domain 3 of a second VEGF receptor, and a multimerizing component, one or more buffers, and one or more thermal stabilizers.
• the first VEGF receptor is Flt1
• the second VEGF receptor is Flk1 or Flt4.
• the fusion protein has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
• the buffer is a phosphate buffer and/or citrate. More preferably, the buffers are phosphate and citrate.
• the thermal stabilizers are NaCl and/or sucrose. More preferably, the thermal stabilizers are both NaCl and sucrose.
• the stable liquid formulation of a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist comprises 1-10 mM phosphate buffer, 1-10 mM citrate, 25-150 mM NaCl, 5-30% sucrose, 10-50 mg/ml of the fusion protein, at a pH of about 6-6.5.
• the stable liquid formulation comprises 5 mM phosphate buffer, 5 mM citrate buffer, 100 mM NaCl, 20% sucrose, 25 mg/ml of the fusion protein, at a pH of about 6.0.
• polysorbate may be present, for example 0.05-0.15% polysorbate 20.
• the stable liquid formulation of the VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist of the invention exhibits little or no precipitation after storage of a 25 mg/ml VEGF formulation for about 6 months at ⁇ 80° C. and little or no precipitation after storage for 6 months at 5° C.
• the invention features a high concentration stable liquid formulation of a VEGF antagonist comprising 1-50 mM histidine, 25-150 mM NaCl, 5-30% sucrose, 50-100 mg/ml of the fusion protein, at a pH of about 6-6.5, and either 0.1-0.5% polysorbate or 1-5% PEG.
• the high concentration stable liquid formulation comprises 10 mM histidine, 50 mM NaCl, 5-20% sucrose, 50-100 mg/ml of the fusion protein, at a pH of about 6.0-6.5, with either 0.1% polysorbate (e.g., polysorbate 20) or 3% PEG (e.g., PEG 3350).
• the high concentration stable liquid formulation of the VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist of the invention exhibits less than about 3% degradation after 15 months of storage at 5° C. (75 or 100 mg/ml VEGF trap protein) or less than about 1.5% degradation after 24 months (50 mg/ml).
• the invention features a pre-lyophilized formulation of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-specific fusion protein antagonist, comprising a (i) fusion protein comprising a receptor component consisting essentially of an immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domain 2 of a first VEGF receptor and Ig domain 3 of a second VEGF receptor, and a multimerizing component, (ii) a buffer, (iii) an organic co-solvent or bulking agent, and (iv) one or more lyoprotectants.
• the buffer is histidine
• the organic co-solvent or bulking agent is PEG
• the lyoprotectant(s) is at least one of glycine and sucrose.
• the pre-lyophilized formulation of the invention does not contain a preservative.
• the formulation comprises 5-50 mM histidine, 0.1-3.0% PEG, 0.25-3.0% glycine, 0.5-6.0% sucrose, and 5-75 mg/ml of the fusion protein, at a pH of about 6.0-6.5.
• the pre-lyophilized formulation may further comprise up to 0.05 mM citrate and/or 0.003-0.005% polysorbate.
• the polysorbate present may be, for example, polysorbate 20.
• the pre-lyophilized formulation comprises about 10 mM histidine, about 1.5% PEG 3350, about 0.75% glycine, about 2.5% sucrose, and about 12.5 to 75 mg/ml VEGF-specific fusion protein, at a pH of about 6.25.
• the fusion protein comprises the protein sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, present as a multimer, e.g., a dimer.
• the reconstituted formulation is 2 times the concentration of the pre-lyophilized formulation, e.g., a 20 mg fusion protein/ml pre-lyophilized formulation is reconstituted to a final formulation of 60 mg fusion protein/ml.
• the lyophilized formulation is reconstituted with sterile water suitable for injection.
• the reconstitution liquid may be bacteriostatic water.
• the pre-lyophilized formulation consists essentially of about 10 mM histidine, about 1.5% PEG 3350, about 0.75% glycine, about 2.5% sucrose, and about 50 mg/ml of the fusion protein having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 as a dimer, at a pH of about 6.25. Citrate (less than or equal to about 0.02 mM) and/or polysorbate (less than or equal to about 0.0005%) may be present.
• the pre-lyophilized formulation does not contain a preservative, a phosphate buffer, and/or more than trace amounts of NaCl.
• the pre-lyophilized formulation consists of about 10 mM histidine, about 1.5% PEG 3350, about 0.75% glycine, about 2.5% sucrose, and about 50 mg/ml of the VEGF trap protein (SEQ ID NO:4), pH 6.3, and upon reconstitution contains 20 mM histidine, 3% PEG, 1.5% glycine, about 5% sucrose, and about 100 mg/ml VEGF trap protein.
• SEQ ID NO:4 the VEGF trap protein
• the invention features a method of producing a lyophilized formulation of a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist, comprising subjecting the pre-lyophilized formulation of the invention to lyophilization to generate a lyophilized formulation.
• the lyophilized formulation may be lyophilized by any method known in the art for lyophilizing a liquid.
• the invention features a method of producing a reconstituted lyophilized formulation of a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist, comprising reconstituting the lyophilized formulation of the invention to a reconstituted formulation.
• the reconstituted formulation is twice the concentration of the pre-lyophilized formulation, e.g., the method of the invention comprises: (a) producing a pre-lyophilized formulation of a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist, (b) subjecting the pre-lyophilized formulation of step (a) to lyophilization; and (c) reconstituting the lyophilized formulation of step (b).
• a pre-lyophilized solution is present in a vial as a 25 mg VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist per ml solution of pre-lyophilized formulation, which is lyophilized and reconstituted to an 50 mg/ml solution.
• a 30 mg/ml pre-lyophilized solution is lyophilized and reconstituted to a 60 mg/ml solution.
• a 40 mg/ml pre-lyophilized solution is lyophilized and reconstituted to a 80 mg/ml solution.
• a 12.5 mg/ml pre-lyophilized solution is lyophilized and reconstituted to a 25 mg/ml solution.
• a 50 mg/ml pre-lyophilized solution is lyophilized and reconstituted to a 100 mg/ml solution.
• a 75 mg/ml pre-lyophilized solution is lyophilized and reconstituted to a 150 mg/ml solution.
• the reconstituted lyophilized formulation does not contain a preservative.
• references to “a method” include one or more methods, and/or steps of the type described herein and/or which will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.
• Chemical instability includes deamination, aggregation, clipping of the peptide backbone, and oxidation of methionine residues.
• Physical instability encompasses many phenomena, including, for example, aggregation.
• lyophilization freeze-drying under controlled conditions
• the lyophilized protein is substantially resistant to degradation, aggregation, oxidation, and other degenerative processes while in the freeze-dried state.
• the lyophilized protein is normally reconstituted with water optionally containing a bacteriostatic preservative (e.g., benzyl alcohol) prior to administration.
• a bacteriostatic preservative e.g., benzyl alcohol
• carrier includes a diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which a composition is administered.
• Carriers can include sterile liquids, such as, for example, water and oils, including oils of petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, such as, for example, peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil and the like.
• excipient includes a non-therapeutic agent added to a pharmaceutical composition to provide a desired consistency or stabilizing effect.
• suitable pharmaceutical excipients include, for example, starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanol and the like.
• lyophilized or “freeze-dried” includes a state of a substance that has been subjected to a drying procedure such as lyophilization, where at least 50% of moisture has been removed.
• bulking agent includes a compound that is pharmaceutically acceptable and that adds bulk to a lyo cake.
• acceptable bulking agents known to the art include, for example, carbohydrates, including simple sugars such as dextrose, ribose, fructose and the like, alcohol sugars such as mannitol, inositol and sorbitol, disaccharides including trehalose, sucrose and lactose, naturally occurring polymers such as starch, dextrans, chitosan, hyaluronate, proteins (e.g., gelatin and serum albumin), glycogen, and synthetic monomers and polymers.
• PEG 3350 is an organic co-solvent which is used to stabilize the fusion protein when agitated, mixed, or handled, and as a bulking agent to help produce an acceptable bulk.
• lyoprotectant includes a substance that may be added to a freeze-dried or lyophilized formulation to help maintain protein structure when freeze-dried or lyophilized.
• a “preservative” includes a bacteriostatic, bacteriocidal, fungistatic or fungicides compound that is generally added to formulations to retard or eliminate growth of bacteria or other contaminating microorganisms in the formulations.
• Preservatives include, for example, benzyl alcohol, phenol, benzalkonium chloride, m-cresol, thimerosol, chlorobutanol, methylparaben, propylparaben and the like.
• Other examples of pharmaceutically acceptable preservatives can be found in the USP.
• An VEGF antagonist is a compound capable of blocking or inhibiting the biological action of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and includes fusion proteins capable of trapping VEGF.
• the VEGF antagonist is the fusion protein of SEQ ID NO:2 or 4; more preferably, SEQ ID NO:4.
• the VEGF antagonist is expressed in a mammalian cell line such as a CHO cell and may be modified post-translationally.
• the fusion protein comprises amino acids 27-457 of SEQ ID NO:4 and is glycosylated at Asn residues 62, 94, 149, 222 and 308.
• the VEGF antagonist of the methods and formulations of the invention can be prepared by any suitable method known in the art, or that comes to be known.
• the VEGF antagonist is preferably substantially free of protein contaminants at the time it is used to prepare the pharmaceutically acceptable formulation.
• substantially free of protein contaminants is meant, preferably, that at least 90% of the weight of protein of the VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist preparation used for making a formulation is VEGF fusion protein antagonist protein, more preferably at least 95%, most preferably at least 99%.
• the fusion protein is preferably substantially free of aggregates. “Substantially free of aggregates” means that at least 90% of the weight of fusion protein is not present in an aggregate at the time the fusion protein is used to prepare the pharmaceutically effective formulation.
• the fusion protein of the methods and formulations of the invention may contain low or trace amounts of compounds as a results of the purification process, for example, low or trace amounts of citrate and/or polysorbate.
• citrate may be present at a concentration of about 0.02 mM and/or polysorbate may be present at a concentration of about 0.0005%. If the pre-lyophilized formulation is reconstituted after lyophilization to half of the original volume (e.g., 100 mg/ml of fusion protein), the resulting concentrations may be 0.04 mM citrate and/or 0.001% polysorbate.
• a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation comprising a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist
• the formulation is a freeze-dried or lyophilized formulation.
• Lyophilized formulations can be reconstituted into solutions, suspensions, emulsions, or any other suitable form for administration or use. Lyophilized formulations are typically first prepared as liquids, then frozen and lyophilized. The total liquid volume before lyophilization can be less, equal to, or more than, the final reconstituted volume of the lyophilized formulation.
• the lyophilization process is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and typically includes sublimation of water from a frozen formulation under controlled conditions.
• Lyophilized formulations can be stored at a wide range of temperatures. Lyophilized formulations may be stored below 25° C., for example, refrigerated at 4° C., or at room temperature (e.g., approximately 25° C.). Preferably, lyophilized formulations are stored below about 25° C., more preferably, at about 4-20° C.; below about 4° C.; below about ⁇ 20° C.; about ⁇ 40° C.; about ⁇ 70° C., or about ⁇ 80° C.
• Lyophilized formulations are typically reconstituted for use by addition of an aqueous solution to dissolve the lyophilized formulation.
• aqueous solutions can be used to reconstitute a lyophilized formulation.
• lyophilized formulations are reconstituted using water.
• Lyophilized formulations are preferably reconstituted with a solution consisting essentially of water (e.g., USP WFI, or water for injection) or bacteriostatic water (e.g., USP WFI with 0.9% benzyl alcohol).
• solutions comprising buffers and/or excipients and/or one or more pharmacetically acceptable carries can also be used.
• Freeze-dried or lyophilized formulations are typically prepared from liquids, that is, from solutions, suspensions, emulsions, and the like.
• the liquid that is to undergo freeze-drying or lyophilization preferably comprises all components desired in a final reconstituted liquid formulation.
• the freeze-dried or lyophilized formulation will render a desired liquid formulation upon reconstitution.
• a preferred liquid formulation used to generate a freeze-dried or lyophilized formulation comprises a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist in a pharmaceutically effective amount, a buffer, a stabilizer, and a bulking agent.
• Freeze-dried or lyophilized formulations preferably comprise histidine, since histidine, in comparison to phosphate, is more effective at stabilizing the fusion protein when the fusion protein is lyophilized.
• Organic cosolvents such as PEG 3350, are used to stabilize the fusion protein when agitated, mixed, or handled.
• a lyoprotectant is preferably used in freeze-dried or lyophilized formulations. Lyoprotectants help to maintain the secondary structure of proteins when freeze-dried or lyophilized. Two preferred example lyoprotectants are glycine and sucrose, which are preferably used together.
• the invention provides a stable pharmaceutically acceptable formulation comprising a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist, wherein the formulation is a liquid formulation.
• the liquid formulation comprises a pharmaceutically effective amount of the fusion protein.
• the formulation can also comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, buffers, bulking agents, stabilizers, preservatives, and/or excipients.
• An example of a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid formulation comprises a VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist in a pharmaceutically effective amount, a buffer, a co-solvent, and one or more stabilizers.
• a preferred liquid formulation comprises phosphate buffer, an organic co-solvent, and one or more thermal stabilizers to minimize formation of aggregates and low molecular weight products when stored, and about 10 mg/ml to about 50 mg/ml fusion protein, wherein the formulation is from about pH 6.0-6.5.
• a preferred liquid formulation comprises about 5 mM phosphate buffer, about 5 mM citrate, about 100 mM NaCl, about 25% sucrose, and about 10-50 mg/ml fusion protein, wherein the formulation is at a pH of about 6.0; optionally polysorbate may be present (e.g., 0.1% polysorbate 20).
• NaCl or sucrose can be used as a stabilizer, a combination of NaCl and sucrose has been established to stabilize the fusion protein more effectively than either individual stabilizer alone.
• Stability is determined in a number of ways at specified time points, including determination of pH, visual inspection of color and appearance, determination of total protein content by methods known in the art, e.g., UV spectroscopy, SDS-PAGE, size-exclusion HPLC, bioassay determination of activity, isoelectric focusing, and isoaspartate quantification.
• a bioassay useful for determining VEGF antagonist activity a BAF/3 VEGFR1/EPOR cell line is used to determine VEGF165 binding by the VEGF-specific fusion protein antagonist of the invention.
• Formulations whether liquid or freeze-dried and lyophilized, can be stored in an oxygen-deprived environment.
• Oxygen-deprived environments can be generated by storing the formulations under an inert gas such as, for example, argon, nitrogen, or helium.
• the invention provides a stable liquid VEGF-binding fusion protein (VEGF trap) formulations comprising 5 mM phosphate, 5 mM citrate, 100 mM NaCl, 0.1% Polysorbate 20, 20% sucrose, 25 mg/ml VEGF trap protein, pH 6.0.
• VEGF trap stable liquid VEGF-binding fusion protein
• This formulation can either be delivered subcutaneously or diluted and delivered by intravenous infusion. Due to the high osmolality of this formulation, it is diluted 3-fold to achieve an iso-osmolar solution for intravenous administration. Stability studies showed less than about 1% degradation was detected after 3 years of storage at 2-8° C.
• the invention features a lyophilized formulation which is preferably concentrated two-fold from the pre-lyophilized to the post-lyophilized formulation, e.g., 50 to 100 mg/ml; 75 to 150 mg/ml, or 100 to 200 mg/ml VEGF trap protein.
• the pre-lyophilized formulation comprises 10 mM histidine, 1.5% PEG 3350, 0.75% glycine, 2.5% sucrose, 50 mg/ml VEGF trap protein, pH 6.3, and is reconstituted to a formulation comprisisng 20 mM histidine, 3% PEG 3350, 1.5% glycine, 5% sucrose, 100 mg/ml VEGF trap protein, pH 6.3. Stability studied showed no degradation of the VEGF trap was detected after 6 months of storage at 2-8° C.
• the formulation comprises 10 mM histidine, 50 mM NaCl, 5-20% sucrose, 50-100 mg/ml VEGF trap, and one of 0.1% polysorbate 20 or 3% PEG 3350.
• This liquid formulation provides a higher concentration of VEGF trap without requiring the manufacture of a lyophilized product.
• this formulation provides ease for subcutaneous delivery, for example, by allowing provision of a liquid pre-filled syringe at a concentraion higher than that delivered by IV infusion.
• this formulation could advantageously be used to provide lower infusion volumes and shorter infusion times. The amount of degradation determined by SE-HPLC following incubation at 5° C.
• the stability of a reconstituted lyophilized formulation was determined over a 6 month period.
• the pre-lyophilized formulation contained 10 mM histidine, 1.5% PEG 3350, 2.5% sucrose, 0.75% glycine and 50 mg/ml VEGF trap protein.
• the reconstituted formulation contained 20 mM histidine, 3% PEG 3350, 5% sucrose, 1.5% glycine, and 100 mg/ml VEGF trap protein (SEQ ID NO:4).
• SEQ ID NO:4 100 mg/ml VEGF trap protein
• this bioassay directly measures the biological activity of the protein.
• the results are expresses as percent relative potency (test sample IC 50 /reference VEGF IC 50 standard ⁇ 100).
• the binding affinity of VEGF to the VEGF trap is measured using a sensitive ELISA that specifically measures free VEGF in equilibrated mixtures containing VEGF and various concentrations of the VEGF trap. Results are expressed as percent relative binding (IC 50 of test sample/IC 50 of reference ⁇ 100). Measured pH ranged between 6.3-6.5. All solutions where visually clear.
• the concentration of VEGF trap recovered was determined with a UV spectrophotometer as mg/ml at A 280 nm.
• VEGF trap protein A formulation containing about 5 mM phosphate, 5 mM citrate, 100 mM NaCl, 0.1% polysorbate 20, 20% sucrose, and 25 mg/ml VEGF trap protein was tested for stability and activity over 36 months when stored at 5° C. The results are shown in Table 9. All samples were clear and colorless as determined by visual inspection. pH ranged from 6.0-6.1. *Binding assay results for two measurements (1 and 2 months) are expressed directly and not as a percent of the standard.
• VGT-FS405 % Native Protein Content Months Configuration Bioassay Binding Assay mg/ml 0 99.7 106 72 25.0 1 99.9 119 4.4 pM* 25.2 2 99.6 102 5.4 pM* 25.1 3 99.6 97 88 25.1 6 99.6 101 106 25.0 9 99.4 89 126 25.4 12 99.5 85 95 25.2 18 99.4 99 81 25.5 24 99.3 75 95 25.6 36 98.8 109 79 25.6

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