Comparability of Biosimilar Filgrastim with Originator Filgrastim: Protein Characterization, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacokinetics

• Published in: BioDrugs : clinical immunotherapeutics, biopharmaceuticals, and gene therapy biopharmaceuticals, and gene therapy, 2015-04, Vol.29 (2), p.123-131
• Main Authors: Sörgel, Fritz, Schwebig, Arnd, Holzmann, Johann, Prasch, Stefan, Singh, Pritibha, Kinzig, Martina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Amino Acid Sequence; Antibodies; Biological activity; Biological products; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals - administration & dosage; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals - chemistry; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals - pharmacokinetics; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals - pharmacology; Cancer Research; Cell Count; Chromatography; Clinical medicine; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Drug dosages; Drug therapy; Filgrastim; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - administration & dosage; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - chemistry; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - pharmacokinetics; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor - pharmacology; Humans; Laboratories; Methods; Middle Aged; Molecular Medicine; Neutrophils - drug effects; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Original; Original Research Article; Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacotherapy; Protein Conformation; Proteins; Recombinant Proteins - administration & dosage; Recombinant Proteins - chemistry; Recombinant Proteins - pharmacokinetics; Recombinant Proteins - pharmacology; Studies; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1173-8804; 1179-190X
• DOI: 10.1007/s40259-015-0124-7

Background Biosimilars provide safety, purity, and potency similar to those of a reference biologic product. Methods An array of protein analytical techniques was used to compare the physicochemical properties of proposed biosimilar filgrastim (EP2006), US-approved originator filgrastim, and EU-approved originator filgrastim. Biological characterization involved surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy analyses and in vitro proliferation assays. A randomized, double-blind, two-way crossover, phase I study in healthy volunteers assessed the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and safety profiles of EP2006 and US-approved originator filgrastim (administered as a single subcutaneous 10 µg/kg injection). Results EP2006 and originator filgrastim (US and EU approved) were highly similar with respect to primary, secondary, and tertiary protein structures; mass, size, purity, charge, and hydrophobicity. No differences in receptor binding affinity were observed, and all samples demonstrated similar in vitro bioactivity. In the phase I study, no statistically significant differences between EP2006 and US-approved originator filgrastim were noted in pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic parameters, and all confidence intervals were within the equivalence boundaries. The two products had similar safety profiles. Conclusion These studies provide robust evidence of the structural and functional similarity between the proposed biosimilar filgrastim (EP2006) and the US-approved originator filgrastim.