Physical Methods To Characterize Pharmaceutical Proteins

Proteins are still gaining importance in the pharmaceutical world, where they are used to improve our arsenal of therapeutic drugs and vaccines and as diagnostic tools. Proteins are different from "traditional" low-molecular-weight drugs. As a group, they exhibit a number of biopharmaceutical and formulation problems. These problems have drawn considerable interest from both industrial and aca demic environments, forcing pharmaceutical scientists to explore a domain previ ously examined only by peptide and protein chemists. Biopharmaceutical aspects of proteins, e.g., low oral bioavailability, have been extensively investigated. Although all possible conventional routes of ad ministration have been examined for proteins, no real, generally applicable alter native to parenteral administration in order to achieve systemic effects has yet been discovered. Several of these biopharmaceutical options have been discussed in Volume 4 of this series, Biological Barriers to Protein Delivery. Proteins are composed of many amino acids, several of which are notorious for their chemical instability. Rational design of formulations that optimize the native structure and/or bioactivity of a protein is therefore of great importance when long shelf life is required, as it is for pharmaceutical products. This issue has also been examined in two prior volumes of this series: Volume 2: Stability of Protein Pharmaceuticals (Part A) and Volume 5: Stability and Characterization of Protein and Peptide Drugs.

This is the first volume to make available specific case histories of therapeutic proteins and peptides that have been marketed or are currently under clinical testing. The editors have selected a wide range of molecules derived from monoclonal antibodies, recombinant DNA, and natural and chemical sources to provide formulation scientists with practical examples of the development of pharmaceutical products.

Biophysical Characterization of Proteins in Developing Biopharmaceuticals, Second Edition, presents the latest on the analysis and characterization of the higher-order structure (HOS) or conformation of protein based drugs. Starting from the very basics of protein structure, this book explains the best way to achieve this goal using key methods commonly employed in the biopharmaceutical industry. This book will help today’s industrial scientists plan a career in this industry and successfully implement these biophysical methodologies. This updated edition has been fully revised, with new chapters focusing on the use of chromatography and electrophoresis and the biophysical characterization of very large biopharmaceuticals. In addition, best practices of applying statistical analysis to biophysical characterization data is included, along with practical issues associated with the concept of a biopharmaceutical’s developability and the technical decision-making process needed when dealing with biophysical characterization data. Presents basic protein characterization methods and tools applicable to (bio)pharmaceutical research and development Highlights the capabilities and limitations of each technique Discusses the underlining science of each tool Empowers industrial biophysical chemists by providing a roadmap for applying biophysical tools Outlines the needs for new characterization and analytical tools in the biopharmaceutical industry

This book describes how to address the analysis of aggregates and particles in protein pharmaceuticals, provides a comprehensive overview of current methods and integrated approaches used to quantify and characterize aggregates and particles, and discusses regulatory requirements. Analytical methods covered in the book include separation, light scattering, microscopy, and spectroscopy.

The book that highlights mass spectrometry and its application in characterizing proteins and peptides in drug discovery An instrumental analytical method for quantifying the mass and characterization of various samples from small molecules to large proteins, mass spectrometry (MS) has become one of the most widely used techniques for studying proteins and peptides over the last decade. Bringing together the work of experts in academia and industry, Protein and Peptide Mass Spectrometry in Drug Discovery highlights current analytical approaches, industry practices, and modern strategies for the characterization of both peptides and proteins in drug discovery. Illustrating the critical role MS technology plays in characterizing target proteins and protein products, the methods used, ion mobility, and the use of microwave radiation to speed proteolysis, the book also covers important emerging applications for neuroproteomics and antigenic peptides. Placing an emphasis on the pharmaceutical industry, the book stresses practice and applications, presenting real-world examples covering the most recent advances in mass spectrometry, and providing an invaluable resource for pharmaceutical scientists in industry and academia, analytical and bioanalytical chemists, and researchers in protein science and proteomics.

Leading scientists offer detailed profiles of ten protein drugs currently in development. The case histories of these important new compounds are described from the perspective of their formulation, characterization, and stability. This ready reference also features recent data and an abundance of previously unpublished information. The in-depth coverage includes a highly useful compendium of degradation sites occurring in over 70 proteins. An invaluable aid in the rapid identification of potential `hot spots' in proteins, this accessible compilation allows for inspection of the protein's primary structure and preparation of a hydroflex plot.

Protein pharmaceuticals form a fast-growing category in the arsenal of drugs. This book explores the nature of different analytical techniques and the way in which they are related to pharmaceutical proteins. In addition to serving the analytical chemist, this book is needed by the formulation scientist who is responsible for design and formulation of a pharmaceutical protein that can be monitored during production and over time.

With the recent completion of the sequencing of the human genome, it is widely anticipated that the number of potential new protein drugs and targets will escalate at an even greater rate than that observed in recent years. However, identification of a potential target is only part of the process in developing these new next generation protein-based “drugs” that are increasingly being used to treat human disease. Once a potential protein drug has been identified, the next rate-limiting step on the road to development is the production of sufficient authentic material for testing, charact- ization, clinical trials, and so on. If a protein drug does actually make it through this lengthy and costly process, methodology that allows the production of the protein on a scale large enough to meet demand must be implemented. Furthermore, large-scale production must not compromise the authenticity of the final product. It is also nec- sary to have robust methods for the purification, characterization, viral inactivation and continued testing of the authenticity of the final protein product and to be able to formulate it in a manner that retains both its biological activity and lends itself to easy administration. Therapeutic Proteins: Methods and Protocols covers all aspects of protein drug production downstream of the discovery stage. This volume contains contributions from leaders in the field of therapeutic protein expression, purification, characterization, f- mulation, and viral inactivation.