IL-17A Antibody Formulation With Methionine and Nitrogen Filling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pharmaceutical formulations of IL-17A antibodies, such as secukinumab, face challenges in maintaining stability and preventing oxidation due to inadequate methionine content and lack of effective anti-oxidation processes, which affect the formulation's efficacy in treating immune diseases like psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Innovation Solution

A stable pharmaceutical formulation containing 150 mg/ml secukinumab, 30 to 50 mM methionine, 0.02% surfactant, 170 to 200 mM stabilizer, and 20 mM histidine buffer, prepared through a nitrogen filling process and venting and nitrogen filling during stopper insertion, effectively inhibits oxidation, ensuring stability under various storage conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If methionine content is maintained at about 20 mM or less as in prior art, then the formulation can be simple, but oxidation of light-chain Cys97 occurs and stability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformulation stabilityVSAvoidformulation composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the methionine concentration parameter to a specific range of 20-50 mM, which is higher than the prior art's 20 mM or less. This parameter change enables sufficient inhibition of light-chain Cys97 oxidation while maintaining formulation simplicity, resolving the contradiction between stability and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements nitrogen filling during the manufacturing process to create an inert atmosphere that prevents oxidation. This environmental control measures protects the antibody formulation from oxidative degradation without requiring complex formulation compositions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

2Reliability

If nitrogen filling process is implemented to prevent oxidation, then oxidation rate decreases to ≤ 0.7%, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidation preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nitrogen filling is performed preliminarily during the manufacturing process before the product is completed and stored. This preliminary action prevents oxidation from the outset, ensuring long-term stability without requiring complex ongoing manufacturing interventions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By establishing an inert nitrogen atmosphere during manufacturing and storage, the patent creates a protective environment that simplifies the overall approach to oxidation prevention, despite the initial process step

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If methionine content is increased to 30-50 mM to inhibit oxidation, then oxidation rate is suppressed, but formulation cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidation inhibitionVSAvoidformulation composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes an optimized methionine concentration range of 20-50 mM, balancing oxidation inhibition effectiveness with formulation simplicity. This parameter optimization achieves sufficient protection against oxidation without excessive complexity or cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Methionine acts as an intermediary substance that sacrificially oxidizes instead of the critical light-chain Cys97 residues. By providing this intermediate protection mechanism, the formulation maintains simplicity while achieving oxidation suppression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The formulation maintains an oxidation rate of ≤ 0.7% for light-chain Cys97 after 4 weeks at 40°C and 75% humidity, ≤ 0.5% under 1,000 lux light illumination, and ≤ 0.7% under agitation, ensuring long-term stability and therapeutic efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

the content of methionine used in the prior art does not sufficiently inhibit the oxidation of pharmaceutical ingredients

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

a process of filling a container with nitrogen gas during the manufacturing of a drug product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP4681732A1Stable pharmaceutical formulation and process for manufacturing drug product
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 CELLTRION INC
  • EP4681732A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4681732A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4681732A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A stable pharmaceutical formulation according to the present invention comprises: (A) an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds to interleukin-17A (IL-17A); (B) a surfactant; (C) a stabilizer; (D) a buffer; and (E) an antioxidant. The present invention also comprises a pharmaceutical formulation prepared by a step of filling a container with nitrogen and a venting and nitrogen filling step when a rubber stopper is inserted into a pre-filled syringe, in manufacturing a drug product. The stable pharmaceutical formulation according to the present invention has low viscosity even when the formulation comprises an antibody, particularly an antibody in a large amount, has excellent long-term storage stability on the basis of excellent stability under accelerated and harsh conditions, and can be administered intravenously or subcutaneously.