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DOI: 10.1055/a-2122-7887
Characterization of Anti-Emicizumab Antibodies Using Repository Samples Obtained in Clinical Studies of Emicizumab Conducted in Japan
Hemophilia A (HA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by a lack of functional coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Treatments for patients with HA (PwHA) can be achieved by administration of the missing functional FVIII. Other coagulation factors called bypassing agents are also used for PwHA with inhibitors. Emicizumab is a humanized bispecific monoclonal antibody which mimics the cofactor function of FVIIIa by binding to activated factor IX (FIXa) and factor X (FX), and it is used for routine prophylaxis in PwHA with or without inhibitors to prevent bleeding.[1] [2] Multiple clinical studies have confirmed the efficacy of emicizumab,[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] although treatment with monoclonal antibodies may result in the development of antidrug antibodies (ADAs).[8] A recent report revealed that in seven phase 3 trials of emicizumab, 34 of 668 PwHA developed ADAs against emicizumab, and 4 of them developed neutralizing ADAs with decreased emicizumab exposure.[9] Decreased emicizumab efficacy due to ADAs has also been reported.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] In these cases, decreased efficacy was caused by neutralizing and/or clearing abilities of the ADAs. However, the characteristics of ADAs have not been well understood. In this research, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of ADAs by analyzing neutralizing activity and epitopes using repository samples from healthy volunteers (HVs) and PwHA who tested positive for ADAs in clinical studies of emicizumab conducted in Japan.
To assess the neutralizing activity of ADAs in repository samples, we established a neutralizing activity assay for ADAs against emicizumab. The neutralizing activity of ADAs was quantified as the inhibited fraction of spiked emicizumab concentration in a modified one-stage clotting assay in vitro. Animal-derived ADAs neutralized the spiked emicizumab in a concentration-dependent manner, and differences in sensitivity were observed in 50, 5, and 0.5 µg/mL emicizumab-spiked conditions ([Fig. 1A]). These results thus indicated that this neutralization assay could detect a broad range of neutralizing activity by ADAs using a certain amount of spiked emicizumab.
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We then analyzed the ADA-positive repository samples collected from 6 HVs (HVs A–F) and 4 PwHA (PwHA G–J) from 3 clinical studies: 2 HVs from a phase 1 study,[15] 4 HVs from a bioavailability study,[16] and 4 PwHA from a phase 1/2 study[17] ([Table 1]). Informed consent about storing and using the repository samples had been obtained in the clinical studies, and this research was approved by an internal ethics committee. In the clinical studies, four HVs showed shorter elimination half-lives of emicizumab (C: 10.1 days, D: 14.1 days, E: 6.93 days, F: 9.27 days) than those for the other two HVs (A: 31.1 days, B: 30.0 days), indicating that ADAs of the former four HVs affected emicizumab pharmacokinetics (PK) ([Table 1]). No PwHA showed decreased emicizumab exposure, indicating that their ADAs did not affect PK ([Table 1]).
Abbreviations: ADAs, antidrug antibodies; CDR, complement-determining region; Fab, fragment antigen-binding; Fc, fragment crystallizable; FIXa, activated factor IX; FX, factor X; HV, healthy volunteer; PK, pharmacokinetics; PwHA, patients with hemophilia A; t 1/2, elimination half-life; N/A, not available.
Note: ADA response was determined based on the harmonized common terminology for immunogenicity.[8]
To measure the neutralizing activity of ADAs, FVIII activity in plasmas from HVs was neutralized by adding two anti-FVIII monoclonal antibodies to mimic the FVIII-deficient condition in vitro.[18] In [Fig. 1B], we show the results of neutralizing activity in the most sensitive 0.5 µg/mL emicizumab-spiked condition. Neutralizing activity was detected in HVs D, E, and F and PwHA J; among them, PK was affected in three cases (HVs D, E, and F) but not in PwHA J. On the other hand, neutralizing activity was not detectable in HVs A, B, and C and PwHA G, H, and I; among them, PK was affected in HV C, but not in the others (HVs A and B and PwHA G, H, and I). The lack of detectable neutralizing activity in these six cases might be accounted for by low titers of ADAs, the interference of the emicizumab remaining in the samples, and the possibility that their ADAs were really not neutralizing.
We further characterized the ADAs by performing epitope analysis with a previously reported electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay.[12] Predominant epitopes of each ADA on the emicizumab molecule were identified when the ECL signal reduction ratio was above the confirmatory assay cut point. For HV A and PwHA I, epitope analysis was not performed since their ADA titers were too low. In the other eight cases, various epitopes recognized by ADAs were detected, but none were in the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region ([Table 1]). Epitopes of ADAs in HVs D, E, and F, whose ADAs were PK-affecting and neutralizing, were commonly complement-determining region (CDR) 1 and 3 of the common light chain (cLC). Epitopes of ADAs in PwHA H were also CDR1 and three of cLC, although ADAs of this case were not PK-affecting nor neutralizing. ADAs of HV B and PwHA G were also not PK-affecting nor neutralizing, yet they had different epitopes; fragment antigen-binding (Fab) region of the FIXa arm only in HV B and Fab regions of the FIXa and FX arms in PwHA G. In HV C, ADA epitopes were Fab regions of the FIXa and FX arms, although the ADAs of this case were PK-affecting but not neutralizing. On the other hand, ADAs in PwHA J also recognized the Fab regions of the FIXa and FX arms, yet the ADAs were not PK-affecting but neutralizing. Overall, neutralizing activity of ADAs was detected in HVs D, E, and F and PwHA J. ADAs of HVs D, E, and F were PK-affecting and their epitopes were commonly cLC.
So far, several reports about emicizumab ADAs have been published. Neutralizing ADAs that affect PK have been reported in several clinical cases.[10] [12] [19] There have been reports of cases of ADAs with undetectable neutralizing activity that do not affect PK,[9] cases of neutralizing ADAs that do not decrease emicizumab exposure,[9] and one case of ADAs that affect PK but lack detectable neutralizing activity.[13] Although our results were derived from a limited number of subjects, we confirmed all these reported patterns of characteristics in ADAs against emicizumab.
In conclusion, we characterized ADAs against emicizumab and elucidated various patterns of ADAs using repository samples obtained from six HVs and four PwHA. We hope that our results will promote the clearer understanding of ADAs and their characteristics.
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Conflict of Interest
All authors are current employees at Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. N.M., H.A., R.K., Y.T., S.H., and Y.Y. hold stocks of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. K.Y. and T.S. are inventors of patents related to Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Acknowledgements
We thank the trial participants and their families, and the trial investigators for conducting the clinical studies. We thank our colleagues at Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Hikaru Koga for the preparation of antibodies for the epitope analysis. We also thank Michinori Hirata, Yuta Inokuchi, Hideyuki Yasuno, and Akihisa Kaneko for providing advice on the various experiments; Masahiro Higashida and Toshiki Tamura for the preparation of repository samples; Ryota Kobayashi, Daisuke Nosaka, Haruko Yamaguchi, and Takao Nakamura for supporting the research planning and discussion.
Author Contribution
N.M. and H.A. analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; N.M., H.A., R.K., M.N.-S., S.H., K.Y., T.N., T.S., and Y.Y. contributed to/designed the research; N.M., H.A., and Y.T. performed the research; K.Y., T.N., and T.S. participated in writing the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final version submitted.
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References
- 1 Kitazawa T, Esaki K, Tachibana T. et al. Factor VIIIa-mimetic cofactor activity of a bispecific antibody to factors IX/IXa and X/Xa, emicizumab, depends on its ability to bridge the antigens. Thromb Haemost 2017; 117 (07) 1348-1357
- 2 Kitazawa T, Igawa T, Sampei Z. et al. A bispecific antibody to factors IXa and X restores factor VIII hemostatic activity in a hemophilia A model. Nat Med 2012; 18 (10) 1570-1574
- 3 Young G, Liesner R, Chang T. et al. A multicenter, open-label phase 3 study of emicizumab prophylaxis in children with hemophilia A with inhibitors. Blood 2019; 134 (24) 2127-2138
- 4 Shima M, Nogami K, Nagami S. et al. A multicentre, open-label study of emicizumab given every 2 or 4 weeks in children with severe haemophilia A without inhibitors. Haemophilia 2019; 25 (06) 979-987
- 5 Pipe SW, Shima M, Lehle M. et al. Efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of emicizumab prophylaxis given every 4 weeks in people with haemophilia A (HAVEN 4): a multicentre, open-label, non-randomised phase 3 study. Lancet Haematol 2019; 6 (06) e295-e305
- 6 Mahlangu J, Oldenburg J, Paz-Priel I. et al. Emicizumab prophylaxis in patients who have hemophilia A without inhibitors. N Engl J Med 2018; 379 (09) 811-822
- 7 Oldenburg J, Mahlangu JN, Kim B. et al. Emicizumab prophylaxis in hemophilia A with inhibitors. N Engl J Med 2017; 377 (09) 809-818
- 8 Shankar G, Arkin S, Cocea L. et al; American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. Assessment and reporting of the clinical immunogenicity of therapeutic proteins and peptides-harmonized terminology and tactical recommendations. AAPS J 2014; 16 (04) 658-673
- 9 Schmitt C, Emrich T, Chebon S. et al. Low immunogenicity of emicizumab in persons with haemophilia A. Haemophilia 2021; 27 (06) 984-992
- 10 Harkins Druzgal C, Kizilocak H, Brown J, Sennett M, Young G. Neutralizing antidrug antibody to emicizumab in a patient with severe hemophilia A with inhibitors: new case with detailed laboratory evaluation. J Thromb Haemost 2020; 18 (09) 2205-2208
- 11 Valsecchi C, Gobbi M, Beeg M. et al. Characterization of the neutralizing anti-emicizumab antibody in a patient with hemophilia A and inhibitor. J Thromb Haemost 2021; 19 (03) 711-718
- 12 Kaneda M, Kawasaki R, Matsumoto N. et al. Detailed analysis of anti-emicizumab antibody decreasing drug efficacy, using plasma samples from a patient with hemophilia A. J Thromb Haemost 2021; 19 (12) 2938-2946
- 13 Harroche A, Sefiane T, Desvages M. et al. Non-inhibitory antibodies inducing increased emicizumab clearance in a severe haemophilia A inhibitor patient. Haematologica 2021; 106 (08) 2287-2290
- 14 Hassan E, Jonathan L, Jayashree M. Real-world experience on the tolerability and safety of emicizumab prophylaxis in paediatric patients with severe haemophilia A with and without FVIII inhibitors. Haemophilia 2021; 27 (06) e698-e703
- 15 Uchida N, Sambe T, Yoneyama K. et al. A first-in-human phase 1 study of ACE910, a novel factor VIII-mimetic bispecific antibody, in healthy subjects. Blood 2016; 127 (13) 1633-1641
- 16 Kotani N, Yoneyama K, Kawakami N, Shimuta T, Fukase H, Kawanishi T. Relative and absolute bioavailability study of emicizumab to bridge drug products and subcutaneous injection sites in healthy volunteers. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2019; 8 (06) 702-712
- 17 Shima M, Nagao A, Taki M. et al. Long-term safety and efficacy of emicizumab for up to 5.8 years and patients' perceptions of symptoms and daily life: a phase 1/2 study in patients with severe haemophilia A. Haemophilia 2021; 27 (01) 81-89
- 18 Takeyama M, Nogami K, Matsumoto T, Noguchi-Sasaki M, Kitazawa T, Shima M. An anti-factor IXa/factor X bispecific antibody, emicizumab, improves ex vivo coagulant potentials in plasma from patients with acquired hemophilia A. J Thromb Haemost 2020; 18 (04) 825-833
- 19 Schmitt C, Emrich T, Chebon S. et al. Low immunogenicity of emicizumab in persons with haemophilia A. Haemophilia 2021; 27 (06) 984-992
Address for correspondence
Publikationsverlauf
Accepted Manuscript online:
04. Juli 2023
Artikel online veröffentlicht:
28. August 2023
© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
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References
- 1 Kitazawa T, Esaki K, Tachibana T. et al. Factor VIIIa-mimetic cofactor activity of a bispecific antibody to factors IX/IXa and X/Xa, emicizumab, depends on its ability to bridge the antigens. Thromb Haemost 2017; 117 (07) 1348-1357
- 2 Kitazawa T, Igawa T, Sampei Z. et al. A bispecific antibody to factors IXa and X restores factor VIII hemostatic activity in a hemophilia A model. Nat Med 2012; 18 (10) 1570-1574
- 3 Young G, Liesner R, Chang T. et al. A multicenter, open-label phase 3 study of emicizumab prophylaxis in children with hemophilia A with inhibitors. Blood 2019; 134 (24) 2127-2138
- 4 Shima M, Nogami K, Nagami S. et al. A multicentre, open-label study of emicizumab given every 2 or 4 weeks in children with severe haemophilia A without inhibitors. Haemophilia 2019; 25 (06) 979-987
- 5 Pipe SW, Shima M, Lehle M. et al. Efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of emicizumab prophylaxis given every 4 weeks in people with haemophilia A (HAVEN 4): a multicentre, open-label, non-randomised phase 3 study. Lancet Haematol 2019; 6 (06) e295-e305
- 6 Mahlangu J, Oldenburg J, Paz-Priel I. et al. Emicizumab prophylaxis in patients who have hemophilia A without inhibitors. N Engl J Med 2018; 379 (09) 811-822
- 7 Oldenburg J, Mahlangu JN, Kim B. et al. Emicizumab prophylaxis in hemophilia A with inhibitors. N Engl J Med 2017; 377 (09) 809-818
- 8 Shankar G, Arkin S, Cocea L. et al; American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. Assessment and reporting of the clinical immunogenicity of therapeutic proteins and peptides-harmonized terminology and tactical recommendations. AAPS J 2014; 16 (04) 658-673
- 9 Schmitt C, Emrich T, Chebon S. et al. Low immunogenicity of emicizumab in persons with haemophilia A. Haemophilia 2021; 27 (06) 984-992
- 10 Harkins Druzgal C, Kizilocak H, Brown J, Sennett M, Young G. Neutralizing antidrug antibody to emicizumab in a patient with severe hemophilia A with inhibitors: new case with detailed laboratory evaluation. J Thromb Haemost 2020; 18 (09) 2205-2208
- 11 Valsecchi C, Gobbi M, Beeg M. et al. Characterization of the neutralizing anti-emicizumab antibody in a patient with hemophilia A and inhibitor. J Thromb Haemost 2021; 19 (03) 711-718
- 12 Kaneda M, Kawasaki R, Matsumoto N. et al. Detailed analysis of anti-emicizumab antibody decreasing drug efficacy, using plasma samples from a patient with hemophilia A. J Thromb Haemost 2021; 19 (12) 2938-2946
- 13 Harroche A, Sefiane T, Desvages M. et al. Non-inhibitory antibodies inducing increased emicizumab clearance in a severe haemophilia A inhibitor patient. Haematologica 2021; 106 (08) 2287-2290
- 14 Hassan E, Jonathan L, Jayashree M. Real-world experience on the tolerability and safety of emicizumab prophylaxis in paediatric patients with severe haemophilia A with and without FVIII inhibitors. Haemophilia 2021; 27 (06) e698-e703
- 15 Uchida N, Sambe T, Yoneyama K. et al. A first-in-human phase 1 study of ACE910, a novel factor VIII-mimetic bispecific antibody, in healthy subjects. Blood 2016; 127 (13) 1633-1641
- 16 Kotani N, Yoneyama K, Kawakami N, Shimuta T, Fukase H, Kawanishi T. Relative and absolute bioavailability study of emicizumab to bridge drug products and subcutaneous injection sites in healthy volunteers. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2019; 8 (06) 702-712
- 17 Shima M, Nagao A, Taki M. et al. Long-term safety and efficacy of emicizumab for up to 5.8 years and patients' perceptions of symptoms and daily life: a phase 1/2 study in patients with severe haemophilia A. Haemophilia 2021; 27 (01) 81-89
- 18 Takeyama M, Nogami K, Matsumoto T, Noguchi-Sasaki M, Kitazawa T, Shima M. An anti-factor IXa/factor X bispecific antibody, emicizumab, improves ex vivo coagulant potentials in plasma from patients with acquired hemophilia A. J Thromb Haemost 2020; 18 (04) 825-833
- 19 Schmitt C, Emrich T, Chebon S. et al. Low immunogenicity of emicizumab in persons with haemophilia A. Haemophilia 2021; 27 (06) 984-992
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