Hexanedioic Acid Buffer Modulates Biopharmaceutical Immunogenicity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biopharmaceuticals administered subcutaneously often induce unwanted immunogenicity, leading to increased costs, reduced bioavailability, and potential life-threatening reactions due to their antigenic properties, which existing formulations like those containing citric acid fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The use of hexanedioic acid or its salts in place of citric acid in pharmaceutical formulations for anti-TNFα antibodies, combined with stabilizers such as amino acids, sugar polyols, and disaccharides, to reduce immunogenicity and improve bioavailability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If subcutaneous administration is used for biopharmaceuticals, then patient self-administration and reduced invasiveness are achieved, but unwanted immunogenicity and reduced bioavailability occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient self-administrationVSAvoidbioavailability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the formulation by incorporating specific excipients and buffer systems that reduce immunogenicity, thereby improving bioavailability while maintaining the subcutaneous administration route

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary substances (excipients, stabilizers, and buffer components) that mediate between the biopharmaceutical and the immune system, reducing unwanted immune responses and improving drug absorption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If subcutaneous administration is used for biopharmaceuticals, then patient self-administration is enabled, but increased clearance and reduced efficacy occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient self-administrationVSAvoiddrug efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The formulation parameters are optimized by adjusting pH, ionic strength, and composition to reduce clearance rates and extend the duration of therapeutic action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates protective excipients and stabilizers that cushion the biopharmaceutical against premature clearance and degradation, ensuring sustained efficacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If citric acid is used in formulations, then immune response modulation is achieved, but skin irritation and pain at injection site occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune response modulationVSAvoidskin irritation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes or reduces citric acid from the formulation and replaces it with alternative buffer systems that do not cause skin irritation, while maintaining immune response modulation capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses alternative excipients that are less irritating to the skin, sacrificing the immunomodulatory benefits of citric acid for reduced local adverse effects

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

Data Source

PatentEP3021833B2Methods and formulations which allow the modulation of immune responses related to the administration of a biopharmaceutical drug
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 HEXAL AG
  • EP3021833B2 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3021833B2 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3021833B2 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

The present invention is related to methods of preparing a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a biopharmaceutical drug, which methods allows the modulation of immune responses related to the administration thereof. The formulation comprises a buffer comprising hexanedioic acid or at least one salt thereof, and/or citric acid or at least one salt thereof. The present invention further relates to method of using hexanedioic acid or at least one salt thereof, and/or citric acid or at least one salt thereof, to modulate the immunogenicity of a pharmaceutical formulation, to a pharmaceutical formulation as such, and to methods of modulating or determining immune responses related to the administration of a pharmaceutical formulation (Fig. 4).