Abstract

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) plays a critical role in regulating IgG homeostasis in vivo. There are mixed reports on whether modification of the interaction with FcRn can be used as an engineering strategy to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of monoclonal antibodies. We tested whether the T250Q/M428L mutations, which improved the pharmacokinetics of humanized IgGs in the rhesus monkey, would translate to a pharmacokinetic benefit in both cynomolgus monkeys and mice when constructed on a different humanized IgG framework (anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)). The T250Q/M428L anti-TNFalpha variant displayed an approximately 40-fold increase in binding affinity to cynomolgus monkey FcRn (C-FcRn) at pH 6.0, with maintenance of the pH binding dependence. We also constructed another anti-TNFalpha variant (P257I/Q311I) whose binding kinetics with the C-FcRn was similar to that of the T250Q/M428L variant. The binding affinity of the T250Q/M428L variant for murine FcRn was increased approximately 500-fold, with maintenance of pH dependence. In contrast to the interaction with C-FcRn, this interaction was driven mainly by a decrease in the rate of dissociation. Despite the improved in vitro binding properties of the anti-TNFalpha T250Q/M428L and P257I/Q311I variants to C-FcRn, the pharmacokinetic profiles of these molecules were not differentiated from the wild-type antibody in cynomolgus monkeys after intravenous administration. When administered intravenously to mice, the T250Q/M428L anti-TNFalpha variant displayed improved pharmacokinetics, characterized by an approximately 2-fold slower clearance than the wild-type antibody. The discrepancy between these data and previously reported benefits in rhesus monkeys and the inability of these mutations to translate to improved kinetics across species may be related to a number of factors. We propose extending consideration to differences in the absolute IgG-FcRn affinity, the kinetics of the IgG/FcRn interaction, and differences in the relative involvement of this pathway in the context of other factors influencing the disposition or elimination of monoclonal antibodies.