Protein Stabilization Using Polymer Detergent Composite

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protein formulations for large-scale industrial production lack stability, particularly those without stabilizing proteins, which limits their shelf life and effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A formulation comprising a pharmaceutically active protein, a mixture of a hydrophilic polymer and a non-ionic detergent with a specific weight ratio, and a polyalcohol and sugar, all without stabilizing proteins like animal or human serum albumin, to enhance stability and maintain activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If protein formulations are made free of stabilizing proteins for large-scale industrial production, then manufacturing complexity and cost are reduced, but stability and shelf life deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidformulation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing protein-based stabilizers with a specific combination of non-ionic detergents (e.g., polysorbate 80 at 0.01-0.5% w/v), hydrophilic polymers (e.g., PVP K30 at 0.1-5% w/v), and reducing agents (e.g., L-cysteine at 0.01-1% w/v). This parameter substitution maintains stability while simplifying manufacturing and reducing immunogenicity risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite formulation system combining multiple excipients (detergent + polymer + reducing agent + buffer) that work synergistically to stabilize proteins. This composite approach replaces single-protein stabilizers with a multi-component system that provides comparable or superior stability without immunogenicity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and formulation stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If stabilizing proteins are removed from formulations, then immunogenicity risk is reduced, but protein activity retention worsens over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmunogenicity riskVSAvoidactivity retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the formulation composition by eliminating protein-based stabilizers (HSA, BSA, gelatin) that cause immunogenicity, and replacing them with non-protein excipients. The specific parameter changes include adding non-ionic detergents (0.01-0.5% w/v), hydrophilic polymers (0.1-5% w/v), and reducing agents (0.01-1% w/v), which collectively maintain protein activity retention without immunogenicity over extended storage periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If conventional formulations without stabilizing proteins are used, then production cost is reduced, but shelf life and effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidshelf life
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention develops a cost-effective composite formulation system using commercially available non-protein excipients (polysorbate 80, PVP K30, L-cysteine, phosphate buffer) that extends shelf life to at least 6 months at 2-8°C and maintains effectiveness. This composite approach achieves longer shelf life than conventional protein-free formulations while keeping production costs low by avoiding expensive stabilizing proteins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2627318B1Formulation suitable for stabilizing proteins, which is free of mammalian excipients
Publication Date: 2017.08.16 MERZ PHARMA GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP2627318B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2627318B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A formulation free of protein which stabilizes pharmaceutical active proteins, peptides, or mixtures thereof in large scale production processes comprising a mixture of a hydrophilic polymer and a non-ionic detergent, and a mixture of a polyalcohol and a sugar. In some embodiments the polyalcohol is absent.