Aflibercept Composition With Controlled Truncation Variant Content

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pharmaceutical compositions of aflibercept face challenges in maintaining stability and efficacy due to the presence of truncation variants, which are difficult to control and can affect the binding and biological activities of the drug.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising aflibercept with a truncation variant (T100) is developed, where the content of the variant is limited to less than or equal to 20%, and the preparation process includes specific culture conditions and analytical methods to maintain the drug's effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the content of truncation variant is strictly controlled to be very low, then the binding and biological activities are maintained, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costly due to additional removal steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding and biological activitiesVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the acceptance parameter for truncation variant content from traditional strict limits (e.g., <5%) to a relaxed threshold (≤20%), thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining drug efficacy. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing the variant to be present at higher levels without compromising binding or biological activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If additional removal steps are implemented to eliminate truncation variant, then the purity is improved, but the productivity decreases and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepurityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the purity threshold parameter for truncation variant acceptance from strict requirements to ≤20%, eliminating the need for additional removal steps. This parameter change directly improves productivity by avoiding extra processing while maintaining acceptable purity levels for drug efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the truncation variant content is allowed to be higher, then the manufacturing process is simplified and costs reduced, but the binding and biological activities may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidbinding and biological activities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent accepts the truncation variant as a permissible impurity within a defined threshold (≤20%), effectively treating it as a disposable element that does not require removal. This approach simplifies manufacturing by avoiding costly and complex removal processes while maintaining sufficient drug efficacy through the established threshold.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Reliability

If strict quality control measures are implemented to minimize truncation variant, then the drug efficacy is ensured, but the manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug efficacyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the quality control parameter for truncation variant content from strict minimization to a defined threshold (≤20%), thereby reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating additional removal steps while ensuring drug efficacy is maintained within the acceptable range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4643871A1A composition comprising aflibercept and a variant thereof and related methods and uses
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 QILU PHARMA CO LTD
  • EP4643871A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4643871A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP4643871A1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5

AI summary

Provided is a composition comprising aflibercept and a variant thereof, wherein the variant is a truncation variant with a truncated VEGF binding portion of aflibercept, and wherein the content of the truncation variant is less than or equal to about 20% by mass percentage. Also provided is a pharmaceutical formulation comprising the composition, and a method for preparing the same. Further, provided are a method for detecting the variant and use of the variant in quality inspection or quality control of an aflibercept-containing product.